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ANECDOTES AID IICIDENTS: 

COMPRISING 

DARING EXPLOITS, 
PERSONAL AND AMUSING ADVENTURES 

OF TH£ 

OFFICERS AND PRIVATES OF THE ARMY, 

AND 

THRILLING INCIDENTS 

OF THE MEXICAN WAR. 





EDITED Bl 


f J. M 


. WYNKOOP, 




LATE OF 


1st OHIO RBiRIMENT. 






^,v,tan^o^Co,.^..^_ 








■■ 1857 ^^ 

c,-. — ... 








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PUBLISHED 


AT 


PITTSBURGH, 






1848 


• 


FOR SALE 


BY ALL BOOKSELI 


.ERS AND NEWS AGENTS, 






1 


- 



PREFACE. 

The brilliant operations of both divisions of the 
American army in Mexico have been themes of 
universal admiration, and the acclaim of the world 
has rendered a deserving tribute to the masterly 
qualities of our generals. Buena Vista stands upon 
the page of history as one of the most gallant defen- 
ces of modern times ; while the rapid and successful 
movements of General Scott are; perhaps, unparal- 
leled. To mention this, however, is a work of 
supererogation; it can add nothing to the laurel 
wreath that encircles the brows of our officers and 
soldiers, whose patriotism is only excelled by their 
gallantry on the field of battle. 

No war has been more prolific in interesting per- 
sonal detail and thrilling incident than that between 
the United States and Mexico. The Peninsular 
War affords, perhaps, the only parallel; and even 
the heroic and brilliant exploits of that era have 
been fully equalled by our gallant army; while 
the peculiar character of Mexican fighting has 
rendered personal daring and sacrifice absolutely 
necessary. The interest excited in the minds of 
the American people, to know and learn all that is 



IV. PREFACE. 



possible of their soldiers, who are either their per- 
sonal friends, or have left homes contiguous to 
their own, led the editor to undertake the compi- 
lation of these pages. And, he believes, that, by 
mingling the ''grave and the gay," as he has done, 
the public have the most interesting view of the 
war that has yet been presented them. 

The present volume purports only to contain the 
personal adventures of the officers and privates of 
our army, together with the most brilliant exploits 
of the war. It is, of course, no attempt at an histor- 
ical record ; though, doubtless, most if not all of 
the incidents are authentic. The volume, it will be 
easily perceived, is chiefly a compilation, yet the 
editor has not deemed it necessary to give his 
authorities in every instance. He hopes that it may 
prove acceptable, and that the discrepancies and 
deficiences, which a hurried compilation may easily 
occasion, and which doubtless exist in the present 
volume, may meet with the indulgence of a liberal 
and candid public. 



THE EDITOR. 

Zanesville, 0. April, 1S48. 



CONTENTS 



Burning- of the Creole, 9 

Giving the Countersign, 12 

Making a Priest drunk, 13 

The gi-ief of an okl Soldier at the death of his Commander, 15 

Camp Ventriloquism, .. 17 

Origin of " Rough and Ready," 18 

'^Yankee Doodle," 19 

Lieutenant Morris, -. 20 

Charley Bugher, 20 

" WooHng " General Wool, 21 

Napoleon's Veteran, 22 

An Adventure with a Nun, ,. 23 

The Repulse at Buena Vista, and Fall of Henry Clay, Jr 25 

" General Taylor never surrenders !" - 27 

Death of a Soldier, 27 

The Man that spoke Mexican, 28 

Scenes at the Quartermaster's, 29 

The MiUtary Tailor, 31 

Dan Murphy, 33 

Charge of Captain May at Resaca de la Palma, .. 34 

Lieutenant Newman, -. 35 

Anecdote of Captain Mason,. 36 

An Attempt to Capture Santa Anna, 37 

Captain Jo 39 

The Soldier's Bible 40 

Anecdote of Santa Anna, ^ 41 

"Ten Strike — Set 'em up ! " 42 

" Give them H— 11 ! " 43 

Serenading vs. Discipline, 44 

Ludicrous Picture of General Pillow, 44 

Death of Major Ringgold, 46 

General Taylor's Good Things, 47 

A Thrilling Incident, ^ 48 

The Lame Drummer, 50 

Captain Baylor's fight with Guerillas, 51 

Svvappin' Hosses, 52 

Bombardment of Fort Brown, 53 

1* 



VI. CONTENTS. 

An American Matron, 56 

Anecdote of General Urrea, 56 

Anecdote of Captain Coffy, 57 

Storming' of Chapultepec, 58 

Lessons at " Single Stick," 60 

Battle of Huamantla, and Death of Captain Walker, 61 

Camp Hydropathy, 64 

Colonel Wynkoop and Captain Walker, 65 

The Night after the Battle of Buena Vista, 66 

Capture and Death of a Mexican Fanatic, 67 

Incident at Buena Vista, 63 

Rum vs. Soldier, 69 

Captain Henrie, 70 

Magnanimity of General Shields, 72 

A Texan Ranger, 73 

" I couldn't help it ! " 74 

Applying to the Head Boss, ; 74 

An Aifecting Scene, 77 

Santa Anna's Gamecocks, 73 

The Rifles, 79 

Capture of Alvarado, 30 

The Eloquence of Action, 81 

Charge of the Mississippians at Buena Vista, 82 

Incident at Cerro Gordo, 83 

Alexander Kunze, 84 

Execution of Deserters, ,. 85 

Appearance of General Taylor, 86 

Bob Walker, 86 

A Noble Recruit, 87 

How they died in Battle, 88 

The Late Levi Gantt, 89 

" Crowd 'em! " '. 90 

Inhuman Massacre, ,-. 91 

Incident related by General Shields, 92 

Captain Burgwin, 93 

Horrors of War, 93 

" Not too good to be looked at," 94 

Lieutenant Colonel Graham, 95 

Anecdote of General Taylor, 97 

Lieutenant Burbank, 98 

Anecdote of General Smith, 97 

General Quitman, 99 

Characteristic, 100 

Jarauta, the Guerilla, 100 

Execution of Mexican Officers, 101 

A Brilliant Exploit, , 102 



CONTENTS. Vli. 

Captain Roberts, 103 

Capture of General Valencia, 104 

A Palmetto Soldier, 1 On 

Baron Von Grone, 106 

Captain Johnston, 107 

Anecdote of the Indiana Regiment, 1 Of) 

Capture of Midshipman Rodgers, 110 

Cutting out the Mexican Brig Condor, 1 1 1 

Eating a Mexican, 114 

Costly Uniform, 113 

Mexican Cavalry Officers, -." 116 

Capture of Captain Thornton's Command, 118 

Captain Butler, 119 

Fremont's Extraordinary Ride, 121 

The Man that was not born to be killed by a Shell, 124 

"A fire in the Rear," 125 

Generals Taylor and Ampudia, 127 

Military Etiquette, 123 

General Taylor and the Volunteers, 12!> 

Lieutenant Colonel Duncan, i:>0 

Major General Pillow, 131 



ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS, 



Burning of the Creole. 

The most brilliant exploit of the war was, doubtless, the 
burning of the Mexican Schooner "Creole," under the wails 
of the Castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, by Lieutenant Parker, 
since deceased. It was boldly and gallantly done, and 
evinced the ripeness of our navy for deeds of utmost daring. 
There was a touch of downright " devil may care " courage 
about the transaction which is as refreshing as the adven- 
tures of ancient knight errantry. 

The United States Brig Somers lay about four miles 
from the Castle ; having been left by the rest of the squad- 
ron, (which was absent on the Tampico expedition,) to keep 
up the l)lockade of Vera Cruz. The inactive and monot- 
onous life of those on board the Somers, led them to form 
enterprizes to relieve themselves from the excessive ennui of 
tlieir situation ; and the feasibility of burning the Creole at 
her moorings, as she lay within pistol shot of the Castle, had 
been frequently discussed, and it was finally executed in the 
most brilliant and successful manner, by three officers and 
five men, in a single boat. 

The officers engaged were Lieutenant J. L. Parker, 
and Passed Midshipmen J. R. Hynson and Robert C. Rog- 
ers. The affair was finally started on the impulse ot the 
moment, without the cognizance of either the Captain or the 
first Lieutenant. Several officers of the vessel, who were in 
the secret of the plot, were extremely anxious to participate 
in its execution, but the limited accommodations of the 



10 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

boat, united with the probability of having prisoners to bring 
back, besides her own crew, precluded more than three 
officers going with prudence. 

When the little party left the Somers at Sacrificios, they 
counted upon the setting of the moon before the moment of 
attack ; but as the boat's crew approached a point where the 
proximity to the enemy made it as hazardous to pause as to 
proceed; the queen of the night was still beaming just above 
a cloudless horizon. When within three or four boat lengths 
of the Creole, however, she sank behind the distant high- 
lands, but her disappearance only served to disclose another 
in the large revolving beacon light of the castle, which, at the 
distance of less than one hundred yards, threw its intense glare 
directly upon the boat. One of the officers, in describing its 
appearance as he gazed upon the apparently innumerable 
dazzling panes, as they turned one after another, remarked that 
they looked to him like ten thousand illuminated wheelbar- 
rows going round and round. Thus they could hardly hope 
to escape detection, supposing it was feasible to board at any 
point. 

The little party ran upon the larboard beam of the Creole, 
and passed within about seventy-five yards of the British 
mail steamer Clyde, from which vessel they were repeatedly 
hailed. The Clyde was, fortunately, to windward, however, 
and was not at all incommoded or endangered by the opera- 
tions about to be undertaken. 

There were three men leaning on the railing of the Creole 
as they came alongside, to whom Lieutenant Parker, who 
spoke their language like a native, represented himself as sent 
upon business by a friendly merchant vessel lying at Sacrifi- 
cios. This quieted the Mexicans for a moment, but a clash- 
ing of the arms of the party, as they clambered up the ves- 
sel's sides, alarmed them again, and they at once hailed their 
brother sentinels on the castle walls. The alarm bell was 
rung, there was a rapid passing to and fro on the battlements. 



BURNING OF THE CREOLE. 11 

and a display of lights in different parts of the town ; yet the 
little party persevered in their efforts, mounted the decks of 
the schooner, and secured every man on board, to the amount 
of seven, prisoners, and proceeded to lay the train for setting 
her on fire ; the first attempt failed ; the light was then acci- 
dentally extinguished — everything looked ominous of failure. 
The use of firearms would have provoked the fire of the 
castle. One of the Mexicans was forced to find fire with a 
pistol at his head. It was a bright coal, and it was on the 
point of going out. To save the last chance, Mr. Hynson 
then poured powder from his hand and succeeded, but he 
was considerably burned. After getting into the boat, it was 
feared that the fire would not burn, when the officers returned 
to make all sure by making a second fire ; and, it is said, 
that having no other material, they tore up their shirt tails, 
which burned remarkably well. The American shirts have 
been put to a good many uses during the present war ; at 
Tuspan a part of one was a flag of truce, at the Resaca they 
served to bind up wounds, and at Vera Cruz assisted in 
burning the Creole. 

As they cast off from the burning vessel, and when still 
within pistol-shot of the castle, and with the muzzles of the 
huge guns plainly visible, the party gave three hearty cheers. 
These failing to provoke a single gun, the impatience of the 
gallant tars vented itself in curses. It would appear that the 
Mexicans from the incessant ringing of bells, must have ap- 
prehended a general attack, and were too intently engaged 
in mustering and flying about to discover the little boat's 
crew. The whole affair appears afterwards to have annoyed 
them immeasureably, while, at the same time, it would go 
far to shevv that the guns of vSan Juan de Uloa offered little 
protection unless the garrison have vigilance to discover an 
enemy, and presence of mind enough to fire upon him after 
he is seen. 

The suspicions of the Mexicans, as might be expected, 



12 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

under the first impulse of exasperation, and reckless of rea- 
son or truth, they are said to have gratuitously charged the 
English with aiding the Americans by hoisting a light — a 
light — a falsehood hcirdly deserving of contradiction. A light 
was hoisted by the Somers, which the alarm of the enemy 
must have magnified into two. The Mexicans have, how- 
ever, become very vigilant since the occurrence, and a few 
nights afterwards fired upon what must have been some prom- 
inent rocks of the reef close by, mistaking them for boats ! 



Givins^ the Countersiorn, 

Onje of that fiiie regiment, popularly spoken of as Colonel 
Stevenson's California boys, was put on guard by way of ini- 
tiating him into the mysteries of a sentinel's duties. With 
the pass-word — "Newport" — were given to him strict injunc- 
tions to shoot the first man approaching or departing from 
the island, who did not pronounce the shibboleth of the 
hour. 

The raw youth shouldered his musket, and soon all sounds 
were hushed save the echo of his own solitary walk, as mo- 
notonously he trod the beaten path. But anon and the sound 
o( footsteps, and then a heavy plunge into the water caught 
his ear, and running to the spot, he hailed in the direction of 
the sound, " HoUoo — who goes there?" "A friend," was 
the prompt reply. " Then if you be a friend say Newport, 
or I'll shoot." 

Great was the laughter^ and not small the vexation of the 
sergeant of the guard, who was in a tent near the speaker. 
Of course he had to call in the whole of the guard, and 
change the countersign. 



MAKING A PRIEST DRUNK. 13 

MiiJcing a Priest Druiilc, 

Mendicanl Priests are constantly going about the streets ot' 
all the cities of Mexico, begging alms for the "Holy Virgin," 
carrying a little tin box to receive the gifts of the benevolent. 
One of these entered a restaurant jnst after a score or more 
of American officers had dined ; all in that peculiar mellow- 
ness of humor which a good dinner seldom fails to excite in 
a set of fellows who are not epicures, but, still admirers of 
"wot is good ;" and this, added to the gurgling of the wine 
that was hissing around, besides numerous other strong drink?, 
embracing the whole vocabulary of punch and toddy, had 
placed the drinkers in what might be termed the quintessence 
of a jolly state ; not drunk. Oh, no ! Gentlemen never get 
drunk ! Gentlemen only get merry ! Very merry, sometime?, 
however ! 

The tin box was protruded. The reverend father raised 
his pious visage toward heaven, muttering several words that 
nobody understood ; though, quite likely, invocations to scores 
of saints (whose pronunciation would be more difficult than 
the pronunciation of Webster's unpronouncable Dictionary,) 
to hear his pious prayers, and open the hearts of these sinning 
rascals who came to rob the church, and cause their purses 
to pour like a golden shower into the reception box of the lord ! 
Praiseworthy occupation, truly ! And the priest seemed 
desirous of testing the belief or benevolence of his company, 
for he immediately petitions in a mixture of English and 
Spanish to "give a mite for the souls of the wretched." 

Captain who generally undertook to be spokes- 
man of the party, in trying circumstances, being peculiarly 
gifted with the properties of blarney. In proof of which prop- 
erties of blarney, it is related, that said Captain stopped the 
entire fire of a Mexican battery of six 8 pounders, at Cerro 
Gordo, by running up to the gunners as they were applying 
the match to the touch-hole, and telling them in Spanish that 
*'they were d d fools, frightening themselves so, firing 



14 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

off cannon, wasting so much powder, just to blow to flinders 
the heads of those good fellows coming up the hill, yonder, 
who would give each one of them a flask of good liquor, a 
knapsack of pork and crackers, and safe quarters to boot ! 
He'd pledge his word to that ! that he would ! and he would 
cut his own noddle off just so, if there was any failure in the 
treaty." At the same time clipping a Mexican's head in 
corroboration of his assertion. His men coming up in the 
meantime, enabled the courageous captain to give the Mex- 
icans safe quarters, and the extras too, that is, if his men 
itmuld ratify the treaty ! 

"Mr. Priest Sackcloth! you're a priest, you are! I'm a 
soldier, I am ! You want some "rhino!" I've got the article 
damme! Ax the same time producing a handful of "pica- 
yunes" "bits" "etc." Now, Sir Sackcloth, I venerate 
your calling ! so much like our own — robbing d — n fools ! 
But, you're a Catholic — we "is'nt!" We like a horn — 
you "dos'nt" Now, if you'll take a horn, we'll take a little 
Catholicism ; that is, pay the dimes, the quintessence of 
Catholicism." The Priest was no drunkard, not he indeed ; 
though the usual prescription for monkish head-ache is a little 
brandytoddy made hot — very hot, with a nun to pour it. — 
But, "here was an honorable compromise,"* it was no harm, 
surely, to drink in the cause of the Virgin ? So thought the 
priest, and swallowed a stiff horn. The benevolent feelings 
of the entire company were awakened, and "picayunes" and 
'bits' chinked into the box, and *horn' after 'horn' flowed down 
the pious father's throat, calling forth, as it gurgled in his 
mouth, myriads of blessings on the patrons of the holy saints. 
The priest's visage warmed into a natural glow ; and the 
liquor ran down his throat as if there had been a stream run- 



Here was an honorable compromise, 

A halfway house of diplomatic trust, 
Where they might meet in much more peaceful guise, 

And Juan now his willingness exprest 

Don Juan. 



DEATH OF COL. SCOTT. 15 

ning that way all his hfe, as the pence had into his tin box. 
The pious father became jolly, and went around the com- 
pany dancing a jig, rather than a saintly walk, and singing 
his prayers to the Virgin in good round numbers. 

And he now took the 'horn' not caring much whether 
the ' bit' went into the can or not. He had got round the 
company, and was pretty full of 'horns' and 'bits', but still 
he seemed loth to depart. He did not find such philanthro- 
pists every day. 

"More — hie — tod — hie — dy ! — hie — more — hie — bits — 
hie !" Essayed the priest. 

"Jolly old Friar !*' 

Began one of the company. The priest caught the strain, 
and sallied into the street, with his tin box in one hand, and 
with the other donned his canoed beaver to his generous pat- 
trons ; yet in replacing it, he could not get it to ride other- 
wise than aslant, and thus he wielded his tin box, singing as 
be went along, his beaver topling on one side — 

"Jolly old Friar !" 



The grief of an old Soldier at the death of his Comma?ider, 
Col. Martin Scott. 

Passing over the batde-field of Molino del Rey, immedi- 
ately after our victorious standard had been planted on the 
enemy's works, where lay the dead and wounded mingled 
together, my attention was attracted to different places, by 
the scenes of grief and sorrow — scenes which pained my 
feelings and shocked my sight — there I found many acquain- 
tances, dead and wounded, whom I had seen but a short time 
previous full of health, and with buoyant spirits, marching at 
the head of their commands, in the strong hope of soon, by 
their noble deeds' and heroic valor, achieving fame for them- 



16 ANECDOTES AND' INCIDENTS. ^ 

selves and honor for their country. But, alas I how uncer- 
tain are the ways of Hfe ; there I found the strong youth and 
the aged veteran, who fell side by side, to rise no more. 
Many of the most noble souls of the army, and the pride of 
the country's chivalry, there performed their last gallant acts 
on the stage of life. After going over a portion of the ground, 
and finding here and there a valued acquaintance, my atten- 
tion was attracted to a grey headed veteran, who was stand- 
ing by the side of one who had fallen. He leisurely took his 
blanket from his back, and spread it over the corpse with 
great care. I rode up to him, and asked him whether that 
was an officer. He looked up, and every lineament of his 
face betokening the greatest grief, replied, "You never asked 
a question more easily answered ; it is an officer." I then 
asked him who it was. He again replied, "The best soldier 
of the 5th infantry, sir." I then alighted from my horse, and 
uncovering the face, found it was Col. Martin Scott. As I 
again covered the face, the soldier continued, without appa- 
rently addressing himself to any person in particular — "They 
have killed him — they will be paid for this — if it had only 
been me — I have served with him almost four enlistments — 
but what will his poor family say?" And as he concluded 
thus, the tears coursed down his furrowed cheeks, and the 
swelling of his bosom showed how deeply he was affected 
by the death of his veteran and gallant commander. Could 
there have been anything more affecting than the grief of 
this soldier on the battle-field ? And how truly sublime and 
eloquent was his reply to me, that it was "the best soldier of 
the 5th infantry." If the greatest orator of the age had dwelt 
upon the memory of a departed friend until he had exhaus- 
ted his eulogy and eloquence, he could not have said any- 
thing which would make a greater impression on our feelings 
than did the reply of this soldier. Col. Martin Scott was 
among the "bravest of the brave." He fought his way into 
the army in the last war with Great Britain ; since that time 



CAMP VENTRILOQUISM. 17 

he has been one of the brightest ornaments, and has signally 
distinguished himself in the war with Mexico, for which he 
has been promoted and brevetted. — Letter from an Officer, 



Camjp Ventriloquism. 

Gen. Wool's strict principles of discipline are frequently 
of great annoyance to the officers and soldiers of the army, 
especially to the volunteer corps, who have but litde respect 
for their officers, and still less for determinate sticklers to 
discipline. 

A private in the Indiana regiment had frequently felt the 
effects of Gen. Wool's disciphne ; and, of course, conceived 
that it was aimed particularly at himself; he, therefore, was 
actuated by no very friendly feelings towards the general. 
Upon one occasion, as the general passed the regiment in 
review, he was saluted with the unusual sound of ^^Old 
JVooley ! " The fiery little general turned round on his 
saddle, w^hen immediately from the other side of the horse 
arose a gruff voice, " Old Wooley ! " "Who dare" — 
commenced the general, in an enraged tone of voice, but he 
was interrupted by a different toned voice from the former, 
— " Old W^ooley ! " The general's choler was up ; his 
* Ebenezer was fairly riz ! ' He turned the head of his 
horse so as to face the line of soldiers, and was about to 
give utterance to some expression of rage, when a voice, 
apparently just by his horse's tail, squeeked "Old Wooley !" 
This was too bad. The little general was boiling with rage ; 
his horse cut a quick caper, that fairly beat the renowned 
ponies in their polkas. But no one was by the horse's tail. 
The general looked at his staff — the staff looked at the gen- 
eral. " Some trick," essayed Colonel ; " Trick or no 

trick, it's" — here the general was cut short by the old 
sound, " Old Wooley! " "Arrest the offender! " shouted 



18 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

the general. Very good ; but the offender was not to be 
found. The officers looked along the line, behind, around, 
in every direction. The general was almost bursting with 
rage — universal silence again reigned — he raised himself in 
his stirrups, as if about to read a disciplinarian lecture to the 
corps of soldiers, but was again interrupted by a low chuck- 
ling voice, close by him, *' Give't up, old Wooley ! " The 
officers could contain themselves no longer ; a universal roar 
of laughter saluted the disciplinarian, who was forced to 
smile in spite of himself. " It must be the devil himself," 
said Wool to an officer near by. " Perhaps some Ventrilo- 
quist ? " The mystery was solved ! But who was the guilty 
character? No one knew; all the officers were interrogated, 
but none knew of a Ventriloquist in their ranks. "Did n't 
I give it to him?" whispered the Indianian to one of his 
messmates. "You did nothing shorter! But 1*11 be hanged, 
Ned, if I did n't think that awful visage of yours was goin'' 
to bust ; you pulled such darnation queer faces ! " 



Origin of^^Rough and Ready. ''^ 

We have all heard that the soubriquet of Rough and 
Ready had its origin in the Florida war, in which General 
Taylor treated the red-skins in the roughest way and readiest 
manner. It was first used in the present war during the May 
Battles. After the memorable battles of Resaca de la Palma 
and Palo Alto, the old general directed the men to be brought 
up before him in review, which was of course done. While 
reviewing them to see, no doubt, how they looked after their 
scrimmage with the yellow bellies; an old soldier, who served 
under him in the Florida war, proposed, at the top of his 
voice, " Three cheers for Old Rough and Ready ! " which 
were given with all the honors. As soon as they had subsi- 
ded, the old general, every feature of his open countenance 



YANKEE DOODLE. 19 

speaking volumes, gracefully took off his chapeau, and re* 
turned thanks, and added, *' Gendeman, I would be happj 
to treat you all, but I have got nothing except some Rio 
Grande water with which to do it ! " 



''YanJcee Doodle.'' 

The Teatro de Santa Anna., assumed the name of '* Na- 
tional Theatre" after the entrance of the American army ; 
and, of course, was liberally patronized by the Americans. 
One evening, as usual the orchestra, after having played 
several airs, finished with a Mexican National Air. The 
audience, being chiefly American, called for " Yankee 
Doodle"; but the orchestra paid no.attention. They stamped 
and rapped as if they would bring the house down over their 
heads, but still the orchestra heeded not. At length the bell 
rang, and up went the curtain. The audience seemed for 
an instant as if they were willing to give it up ; but at this 
moment, a tall, slab-sided-looking genius, who bore the ap- 
pearance of being a real thorough-bred volunteer, of the first 
water, raised himself about "half straight," and said — "I 
often heard that Yankee Doodle was the American fiightin' 
tune, but as the darned eternal greasers keep us so busy 
while we are fightin', that we could n't have time even to 
whisde a litde, I think we might have a litde touch of Uncle 
Sam's favorite, if it's only to make a feller think of the 
white settlements." This acted like an electric shock upon 
the audience, and they recommenced their calls for Yankee 
Doodle. The actors appeared upon the stage, but still they 
continued to stamp and haloo. Sefiora Canette bowed 
gracefully, and smiled bewitchingly ; but it was no use ; 
they had determined upon hearing our national air, and 
nothing could persuade them from it. The actors withdrew, 
the curtain fell, the orchestra complied with their demands, 



20 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

and (he balance of the evening's entertainment passed off In 
excellent order. "Ah," said a Mexican gentlemen to an 
American officer, *' It Is no longer a source of surprise to 
me that we have been so easily conquered. Soldiers, who 
place love of country before the smiles of the fair sex, would 
conquer the world ! " 



Lieut. Morris. 
In the late conflict near Mexico, soon after Major Twiggs^ 
of the Marines, was killed, Lieut. Morris, of the Rifles, was 
ordered to make a charge, in order to attain a certain point. 
Deeming his men too few for the undertaking, and seeing the 
Marines without an officer, he ordered them to help him. 
They replied, that he was no officer of theirs, aud refused — 
he remonstrated, and they still refused. Finding authority 
and remonstrance of no avail, he shouted to them — "Marines, 
I am the son of Com. Morris — if you have any veneration 
for his memory, follow me." The appeal was irresistible — 
their sailor hearts were touched, and with a cry of joy, they 
bounded forward, and shared his dangers and his perils, until 
success was obtained. 



Charley Bugher. 

There are but few persons in Boston who do not remen> 
ber Charley Bugher. He was noted for his remarkable suc- 
cess in every enterprise he undertook. Charley was the 
iirst to present the citizens ©f Boston with the late Foreign 
papers. By boarding the steamer at an early hour, he was 
enabled to have his budget sold long before the City press 
had issued their extras, reaping at the same time a very 
handsome profit 

But what yankee ever staid at home all his life? Charley 
went to the wars for the fun of the thing, though not as a 



21 

soldier, but as a " volunteer on his own hook ;" who chose 
to fight where the game was most promising. He was 
noted for his coolness and self-possession. Before the works 
of Valencia, near the capital, he was calmly loading his gun, 
in a position separated from the main body of the army, and 
picking off at least one Mexican at every shot. His peculiar 
sang froid attracted the attention of Gen. Worth, who was, 
doubtless, much surprised to see a man fighting in that out- 
landish fashion. The general rode up — " What regiment 
do you belong to. Sir?" " None, Sir ! I'm one of the 
Printer's craft, from Bosting!'''' The next day Charley was 
invited to Gen. Worth's headquarters, and there received 
a handsome present, accompanied by the general's thanks 
for his gallantry. 



*' Woolhig''^ General Wool, 

In honor of the marriage of the daughter of the alclade of 
Saltillo, a dancing party was got up, to which three of the 
Mississippi volunteers were invited, Saunders, Bertha, and 
Pat O'Rourke. Application was accordingly made to Gen. 
Wool for permission to go, but the General not having found 
any thing about dancing in his books on tactics and discipline, 
and not deeming it a very necessary accomplishment of a 
soldier, promptly refused the request. Now here was a di- 
lemma. Our messmates were equally as determined to see 
some of the fun, and enjoy some of the dancing with the girls 
at the party, as General Wool was that they should stay in 
the camp that night. But how to effect their object was a 
matter of profound though somewhat vexatious study. In 
the midst however of their plans and schemes, none of which 
promised to secure the objects so dear to them, Pat was ta- 
ken suddenly ill, and swore by all the saints in the calendar 
that he must be carried to the hospital, or he would die en- 
tirely ; and immediately poor Saunders and Bertha, with 



2ti ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

sad hearts, rolled Pat up, all dressed as he was in his best 
apparel, in a blanket, and taking a corner in each hand, with 
the watchword of '* a sick man for the hospital," they soon 
passed the sentry. When out of hailing distance, Pat ex- 
claimed, " boys, let me down aisy, we've pulled wool over 
ould Wool's eyes, and now let's be after the dance," and 
away they scampered to the wedding, where the adventure 
was soon told, which rendered the boys, and Pat in particu- 
lar, the lions of the evening. They returned to camp next 
morning, reporting their sick comrade well, and the whole of 
Uiem ready for duty. It is said, however, that General Wool, 
having some inkling of the trick that was played off on him, 
determined that, for the future, when there is any fun going 
on in town, there are to be no sick men, particularly from 
tiie Mississippi regiment, taken to the hospital. 



Najpoleo'o's Veteran. 

The first discharges of the Mexican batteries upon the 
opening of the first engagement of Palo Alto killed a French 
veteran of Napoleon. He was serving as a private in the 
fifth regular infantry, and while bravely doing his duty as an 
American soldier received a cannon shot that carried off both 
his legs. He had witnessed the different phases of Napoleon's 
fortunes. He had passed unhurt through the bloody con- 
flicts of Austerlitz and Jena, and had borne a manly share 
of the horrors and privations of the disastrous Russian cam- 
paign. He had seen the proud nodding of the plumes of 
the imperial guard, as they advanced to the charge led by 
the gallant and lamented Ney, and, when repulsed by the 
British square, he viewed their broken ranks hurrying to pro- 
tect the Emperor, their gallant charge covering with glory 
the fall of the Empire at Waterloo. He had survived all 
these and lived to fall by a shot from a Mexican battery upon 



ADVENTURE WITH A NUN. 23 

the field of Palo Alto ! His comrades gathered around him, 
and as they saw his lamentable wounds wobld fain offer him 
consolation ; but the brave fellow, as his eyes were waning 
in death, waved his hand, and pointed to the enemy, ex- 
claiming with his last breath, " Go on, comrades ! I have 
only got what a soldier enlists for!" 



A71 Adventure with a Nun. 

Two American officers, having remained in the cathedral 
of Puebla after the services, were accosted by a Mexican 
Nun, who had lingered behind the sisterhood, with "You 
are an American?" addressed particularly to one of them ; 
the officer bowed. His companion stepped a few paces 
ahead, and left him to enjoy the singular and unexpected 
adventure. 

"Are you a man of honor? " began the nun. 

" Such is the natural trait of an American soldier," replied 
the officer, again bowing. 

" I wish you to render me an important service. Can I 
expect you to assist me ? " 

*' Anything in accordance with my principles as a gentleman 
of honor, and my duty as an American soldier, I will willingly 
render in your service." 

" I believe I may trust you." And, as a pledge to his 
sincerity, she offered him her hand, to which the officer 
respectfully bent his lips. 

*' When the bell of the convent tolls the hour of midnight, 
be at the western gate — more anon — adieu ! " 

At the appointed hour, the officer was ready at the con- 
vent walls, together with a few friends ; who, at his desire, 
had accompanied him, to vvitness the upshot of what they 
supposed to be an innocent love adventure. As the hour of 
twelve was tolled, a small wicket opened, and a figure in a 
dark mantle, entirely concealing the form, appeared. 



24 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

The officer approached, when the figure saluted him in a 
whisper. — " Accept my gratitude !" He immediately re- 
cognized the voice of the nun of the morning service, and 
did not h(isitate to obey her injunction, " Be silent ! Follow 
me !" 

At a quick pace, she threaded through the darkened paths 
the officer following close behind ; and presently opened a 
small door under a low archway, with a key she carried sus- 
pended from a ribbon around her neck ; and, catching the 
officer by the hand, passed quickly through a dark passage, 
to a small door to which she applied another key, w^hen the 
officer found himself in a lady's chamber, the absence of 
every thing but a bed and chair giving sufficient evidence of 
its occupant. The nun turned the lock on the door, placing 
the key in her pocket, then turning to the officer exclaimed, 
*' There is yet another and severer trial of your courage and 
honor, sir ! Uncover that bed !" The officer obeyed, when, 
to his utter horror and amazement, he discerned the dead 
bUy of a monk, besmeared with gore. She noticed the 
sickened disgust of his countenance, and, in voice of rage 
addressed him, *' What ! are you startled at the sight of a 
dead body ! you, who have slain hundreds of my country- 
men ! The favor you are to do me is to take that body up- 
on your shoulders to the outer walls of the convent!" 

" Madam ! I promised nothing that was dishonorable. I 
cannot obey you." 

" Ha ! she exclaimed, in a smothered voice of rage, draw- 
ing at the same time a pistol from her person, and levelling it 
at the officer's head, " Refuse, and I have two dead bodies 
in my room ! Nay, three, for this dagger, snatching one from 
a table, shall be bathed in my own blood, as it has already 
pierced the breast of that miserable monk !" 

The officer was irresolute. But the pistol near his head 
quickly decided his questions of honor. He essayed to place 
tlie body on his shoulders, when the nun stopped him — "One 



DEATH OF HENRY CLAY, JR. 25 

parting pledge !" filling at the same time two glasses of wine 
from a flask that was upon the table ; the officer with a forced 
bow quaffed the wine, though he noticed that the nun put 
down her glass untasted. She now assisted him with his 
burden ; and directed him to follow her through the same 
dark passage. She opened the outer wicket, and thrust the 
officer quickly through, closing it behind her, locking it upon 
the inside. 

The officer narrated his adventure to his comrades, when 
it was thought advisable to make immediate report to the 
commanding general. They had proceeded but a few paces 
however, when the officer fell a lifeless corpse upon the 
flagged pavement. The nun's glass of wine had done its 
work. 

A few days after a long procession of priests and common 
people followed the body of a nun to her grave. She had 
died suddenly in her bed. So said the priests. But suspi- 
cion whispered that the double murderess had added suicide 
to her other crimes. l^ 



The Repulse at B^iena Vista, and fall of H. Cla^j. 

The Kentucky, Illinois and Mississippi regiments were 
placed by order of the General in chief in front, while 
O'Brien's artillery was placed on the right, to meet the charge 
of the Mexican lancers, who rode gallantly forward upon the 
American ranks, with every appearance of a desperate effort 
to gain the day. O'Brien's battery was the only one upon 
the field. Sherman's and Bragg's not having yet come up 
from the left were they had contributed to the repulse of the 
enemy. O'Brien fought until nearly all his men were killed, 
then retiring abandoned his guns to the enemy. At this mo- 
ment the batteries of Sherman and Bragg and Washington 
appeared on the field, and a destructive fire was opened from 
all sides upon the body of lancers. This action was to de- 
3 



26 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

cide the fate of the day, and the efforts of both parties were 
consequently redoubled. 

At length the Mexicans began to waver, when the Kentuck- 
ians and Illinoisians charged forward, driving the immense 
masses of infantry and cavalry before them. The Illinosians 
passed around the head of a ravine in front, while the Ken- 
tuckians crossed its deep bed. As they rose on the opposite 
bank they formed and delivered several fires, when finding 
themselves beyond supporting distance, and being raked in 
their right flank by a battery, they were unable to support 
the Mexican columns which had rallied and returned, charg- 
ing on them with fury. The Kentuckians and Illinoisians 
also, retired down the banks of the ravine, where they were 
overwhelmed with a shower of balls. Here fell Colonel 
John J. Hardin of the first Illinois volunteers. Col. R. W, 
M'Kee of the Kentucky regiment, and also the gallant Lieut. 
Col. Henry Clay, jr. the son of the distinguished statesman of 
Ashland. He had graduated at West Point as the second 
in his class; and, having resigned his commission, was prac- 
ticing law at Lexington, when the call for volunteers was 
made. With a patriotic devotion, not unworthy of his sire, 
and which has ever been the distinguishing trait of his native 
state, he enrolled himself under his country's banners, and 
joined Gen. Taylor, having been made Lieut. Colonel of the 
Kentucky Regiment. He was shot through the legs, during 
the last charge made by the regiment to which he belonged. 
He fell though not mortally wounded, in the bed of a ravine, 
and three of his men were bearing him from the field up the 
slope of the hill, when, being pressed by the enemy, the gen- 
erous Clay begged them to leave him and save themselves, 
and at the same time handing to one of them his pistols, said, 
" Take these and return them to my father. Tell him I have 
no further use for them." The men seeing that all must be 
lost unless they quickened their pace, dropped their charge 
and fled. Col. Clay was last seen lying on his back, fighting 



**GEN. TAYLOR NEVER SURRENDERS." 27 

with his sword a squad of Mexicans, and was found pierced 
with ten bayonet wounds. 



^^ General Taylor never surrenders ! " 
Upon the field of Buena Vista, the successful fire of the 
Mississippi Rifles and Third Indiana, together with the 
brisk cannonade of Capt. Bragg, joined bj the cavalry of 
Capt. May, enclosed, almost in walls of fire, a large party 
of Mexican cavalry, that had attempted to force the brigade 
of Gen. Lane. Santa Anna immediately sent an officer to 
know what Gen. Taylor wanted. Gen. Wool attempted to 
carry an answer, but was prevented by the fire of the enemy. 
The general-in-chief despatched Lieut. Crittenden to de- 
mand the surrender of the body of cavalry detached from 
the main body of the Mexican army. The officer, pretend- 
ing not to understand the message, conveyed the lieutenant 
blindfolded to the headquarters of Santa Anna ; who inquired 
of him what Gen. Taylor wanted The lieutenant replied, 
♦'He has sent me to demand your immediate surrender." 
When this extraordinary demand was translated to the Mex- 
ican, he raised his hands and eyebrows in utter astonishment 
at the temerity and presumption of such a message, and 
replied, that he would expect Gen. Taylor to surrender in 
an hour, or he would destroy all his forces. Lieut. Critten- 
den's reply was, ''^General Taylor ntver surrenders ! ^"^ 

Santa Anna effected his object by this ruse de gueire, for 
the suspension of firing enabled the body of cavalry to re- 
turn to the Mexican army. 



Death of a Soldier. 
A soldier, by the name of Victor Galbraith, a bugler in 
Captain Mier's company of volunteer cavalry, was shot at 
Saltillo, for threatning his captain's life. The poor fellow 



2S ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

had, in a moment of passion, or when gloating over some 
real or imaginary wrong, given utterance to an expression 
that brought him before a court martial ; and, according to 
the regulations of the service, was condemned to be shot. 
The troops were all mustered to witness the dreadful scene. 
The unhappy prisoner was brought forward under the charge 
of the provost marshal and guard. Sixteen men were 
detailed, and formed in single file. The prisoner calmly sat 
down on his coffin at a few paces distance, and looked the 
executioners firmly in the face. His sentence was then read 
to him ; he threw his head back, and said to the men, — 
" Take good aim : I am ready to die ! " They fired ; he 
fell immediately, having received three balls in his body ; 
but in a few moments he again arose, resting on his elbow, 
and asked for water, and drank. He then said, *' Kill me 
at once, and relieve me of my misery ; " when four of the 
men, who had reserved iheir fire, advanced ; and, placing 
the muzzles of their guns to within a (ew inches of his body, 
fired, almost cutting him asunder. Though he had, doubt- 
less, merited his fate, yet the resolution and firmness with 
which he faced death, excited tears of sympathy, from all 
who witnessed the sorrowful scene, that one, endowed with 
such manly resolution, had not met a nobler death than thai 
of a condemned criminal. 



The Man that sjJoJce Mexican. 

Gen Wool, the brave and heroic soldier of Buena Vista, 
is a strict disciplinarian as well as a gallant and accomplished 
officer. The following "good 'un," which Capt. Tobin tells 
us happened in camp, must have excited the fiery little gen- 
eral to a high degree. While sitting in his marquee, a Mex- 
ican was ushered into his presence whose demeanor denoted 
the importance of some important communication which he 
wished to deliver. 



SCENES AT THE QUARTERMASTER'S. 29 

The General could not speak Spanish, and his interpreter 
was sought in vain. A long specimen of a sucker, who from 
the outre style of his dress, the General took, perhaps, for a 
ranger, happened at that moment to straggle past. 

"Come here my man," called out the General. With an 
air of perfect nonchalance, the sucker doffed his battered 
castor and entered the tent. 

"Do you speak Mexican '?" inquired the General. 

•'Why, General, I rather guess not." 

"Well, can you tell me of some one who does V" 

"Yes-sir-ee — I jist can," answered the man. 

"Quick, then, and let me know where he is," demanded 
the irrascible commander, 

"Why, here," drawled the imperturbable sucker, laying 
his hand on the Mexician with whom it was desired to com- 
municate, he can't spealc amj thing else.^^ 



Scenes at the Quartermaster's. 

Thos& who wish to see the effects of the war, should visit 
the Quartermaster's department at New Orleans. Early in 
the day numbers of returned soldiers throng around the en- 
tiance, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the officers connected 
witli the department. When the doors are opened, they all 
rush up to have their accounts adjudicated. Here you will 
see a colonel, who has just returned from Mexico. His epau- 
lets are faded and his countenance is bronzed with exposure. 
He has mounted the heights of Monterey — served at Churub- 
usco, Chapultepec, and like a lion, sprung through the gates 
of the city of Mexico. With his martial cloak thrown care- 
lessly around him, he does not seem to think he has done 
any thing, but only comes to get the accounts of his regiment 
settled. He thinks of his home, where his loved ones are, 
it may be, that for months he has not received a single letter 
3* 



30 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

from his friends, and he longs to meet them. After having 
sought the " bubble reputation e'en in the cannon's mouth," 
he returns to his homestead — and who can tell the greeting 
that he will receive ! His friends will cling around him, and 
look upon him as the oak that has been scarred, though not 
blasted by the lightnings of war. Who would not envy his 
feelings when he finds himself in the bosom of his family 1. 
Again, here enters a stalwarth captain, with an air that shews 
that he is bravery itself. He, too, has been to the wars, and 
bears the marks of honorable wounds. His company, to him 
have been a family, and he is as careful of their wants as 
though they were his own children. When he gets their ac- 
counts settled, and furnishes them with transportation to their 
homes, scenes will take place that none but those who can 
dive into the depths of human nature can imagine. " Cap- 
tain," one soldier will say, " I bid you good bye I I'm going 
to the west, for I've got enough of the war. When I deserved 
it, sir, you treated me purly hard, as I thought then, but I 
do not think so now, sir. God bless you, sir." Another 
soldier came up — may be with too much brandy in his brain, 
Captain, said he, " how are you old boss ! Well, we got 
through it all didn't we? You would'nt let me have my 
licker down ^here at Vera Cruz; but now I'm discharged, 
and I'm going on a regular bender !" Then again, a staid, 
sober young man, with an almost healed wound on his cheek, 
and his arm in a sling approaches his captain. His officer 
turning round and seeing his face, grasps his hand — *' Wil- 
liam, my dear fellow, you saved my life at Molino del Rey. 
I shall never forget when a swarthy Mexican brought his es- 
copeta to bear upon my breast, you rushed in between us and 
received the ball in your arm. And then, William, when I 
was wounded by a lance, and you were sabred, you crept up 
to me, whilst the blood was gushing from your cheek, and 
endeavored to take me off the field. William, we are both 
going to our homes — perhaps never to meet again — what can 



THE MILITARY TAILOR. Ql 

I do for you ?" " Captain," answers the young soldier, as 
he wipes his eye with his unwounded hand, '* as you say, I 
did all I could for you. When I enlisted I swore in my 
heart that I would never desert you. When the balls were 
coming on in showers, I did'nt care for myself, but I thought 
of you. Death was nothing, then, sir; but I thought of one 
who was far away. I promised her when I left my home in 
Dayton, Ohio, that I never would desert the banner of the 
stars and stripes. Captain, give me a line to my dear old 
mother, and in it please say that I have done my duty." 



The Military Tailor. 
The following rather ludicrous scene took place on board 
one of our men of war, while the army was encamped around 

Vera Cruz : — Captain -, and a very valiant captain he 

has proved himself, in many a hard fight — but the captain^s 

bravery is no part of our story. Well, then. Captain 

was on board one of our men of war, on a visit, while the 
army was encamped around Vera Cruz, and having compli- 
mented the commander of the craft on the appearance of his 
vessel, he added — "Captaine, you doesh'nt sheem to remem- 
berish me." The commander replied that he certainly did 
not remember ever having had the pleasure of seeing him 

before. "Vy, 1 knowsh you in ven I vash tailorsh, 

and I tinksh you owesh me for a coat; but never mind dat 
now ; for we are all gallant tailors and zoldiers togeder." 
The commander assured him that he was mistaken in the 
person, and begged to be excused, as duty required his pres- 
ence elswhere. The commander then le(t the captain to the 
care of his first lieutenant, who, (seeing the same, and know- 
ing that there w^as a party in the ward-room, than whom none 

hked fun better,) invited Captain below. As soon as 

the officers had talked and laughed awhile, and stowed away 
a few slugs of brandy, in the soldier's locker, they asked the 



3S ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

green horn how it came he happened to be captain of the 

company. Capt. looked suspiciously around, but his 

entertainers appeared too serious and sincere to allow of his 
supposing that they were asking for amusement, or attempting 
to run a rig on him. He, therefore, replied, "Veil, den, you 
must knowsh dat I was tailorsh, and ven the volunterish want 
the uniforms, dey come to mine schtore, and I makes the 
Hniformsh for dem. I makesh great many uniformsh for all 

one companish, but ven I vant to get my monish, de d d 

volunterish had no monish at all to pay me. Vel, you shee, 
dat vas bad, so I vent home to mine vife, and I say to mine 

vife, I cannot get mine monish from de d d volunteersh, 

and mine vife, too, saydat was bad ; and mine vife and I ve 
vent to bed on it. Vel, after a little, ven I was laying in bed 
alongshide of mine vife, and shinking how I should get mine 
monish, my vife poked me in de shide and say, 'dis ish not 
right.' Veil, I did not know vot vas not right, and I ask 
mine vife, as she lay in bed. Mine vife say, *you must get 
de monish from de d — d volunteersh,' (no, mine vife did not 
say d — d ; mine vife doesh not swear.) Veil, I say I shall 
be glad to get de monish ; but if dey have not got de monish, 
how can I get it ? Den mine vife say to me, 'You are one 
fool ; you must go to dem volunteersh, and you must tell dem 
dat dey must make you captaine of de companish, or you 
vill put dem all in de jail, and den dey cannot go to de halls 
of de Montezumash ; and den mine hushband — mine goot 
hushbund — ven you are captaine, you vill get de monish to 
pay de zoldirsh dare vages, and den you can pay yourself.' 
I shumps up in de ped, for I see dat mine vife vas right ; so 
de next day I vent to de volunteersh and I tell dem vat mine 
vife say ; and de next day dey elect me captaine, and I paysh 
mine self." The officers could no longer restrain their 
laughter, but burst out into one simultaneous shout. The 
Captain sloped as well as he was able, and has never ventured 
on board a man of war since. 



DAN. MURPHY. 33 

Dan Murphy, 

Shortly after the entrance of the American army into the 
capital of Mexico, there died one of those remarkable men, 
whose lives appear more like romance than history — Daniel 
Murphy, a Texan Ranger. 

The following is a brief sketch of his eventful life, as it 
appeared in the American Star, city of Mexico. 

After participating in the capture of San Antonio de Bexar, 
when Cos surrendered that fortress, and a well appointed 
army, to a handful of Texans, he joined the Georgia Battalion 
under Fannin, near Victoria, and was with them when they 
surrendered to Urrea, and was marched to Goliad. On the 
morning of the famous massacre of that noble band, and after 
the first discharge from the enemy, Dan, with two or three 
others, succeeded in making his escape, and reaching the 
Texan camp. He was again found in the Texan camp 
when Bowles, the Cherokee chief, had combined the twelve 
tribes to exterminate the whites and drive them from the 
country. The result of this campaign was the complete ex- 
pulsion of the Indians from the settlements. He next joined 
the ill-fated Santa'Fe expedition, and was again made pris- 
oner, and again escaped to Texas ; and coming upon the 
Rio Grande frontier, like the lamented Cameron, was the 
terror of those robbers and butchers under Canales, &c., who 
were the annoyance of the scattered settlers. When the 
war broke out between the United States and Mexico, Dan 
came to the Rio Grande, and has been present in every fight 
we have had with the Mexicans, from that place to this. 
His fights are now over ! Twelve years ago, he swore to be 
revenged for the massacre of his comrades at Goliad, and 
well has he kept his oith. He died in the capital of hia 
enemies, with the flag of his country waving over their cod- 
quered battlements. 



34 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. . 

Charge of Captain May. 

Gen. Arista, after his defeat in the two successive engage- 
ments of Palo Alto, had fortified himself in a much stronger 
poshion, that of Resaca de la Palma. His troops were 
placed in position with consummate skill. He had selected 
a point of the road, upon each side of which lay a deep 
and impassable ravine. His front line of infantry was posted 
on the exposed side of the ravine, while that opposite to the 
American army was lined with his batteries. The Mexican 
ranks were quickly driven over the ravine, but the deadly 
fire of the enemy's batteries prevented the American force 
from making a further advance : while the road was rendered 
still more impassable by a strong battery of large fieldpieces, 
placed directly in its centre, together with flanking batteries. 
The infantry had stopped upon the edge of the ravine ; 
though not idle, as they were keeping up a brisk fire upon 
the Mexican lines ; while Ridgely's battery was engaged 
with the enemy's in a sharp cannonade, yet with no ulterior 
hopes of victory. The crisis had arrived. The sagacity of 
the general-in-chief perceived that the main battery of the 
enemy must be taken. He gave an order to an aid by his 
side, and in a few moments. Captain May, of the dragoons, 
galloped towards him. " Sir," said General Taylor, '* you 
must take that battery." " 1 will do it ! " replied the gallant 
Captain, and returned to his command. "Men, follow!" 
And away sped eighty-four dragoons, four abreast, with 
their leader four yards in front ; raising a shout as they 
swept along, that rang above the din of battle, while their 
horses' hoofs seemed to shake the ground. 

But May's moment had not yet come. The gallant 
Ridgely obstructed his onward progress. " I am ordered to 
charge those batteries," said May, coming to a halt. Ridgely, 
begrimed with powder, and laboring in the humblest offices 
about his pieces, turned to his brother officer, and knowing 
the dangerous duty he had to perform, said, '' Wait, Charley, 



CHARGE OF CAPT. MAY. 35 

till T draw their fire." The next instant the match descended, 
and ere the sharp report of Ridgely's batteries had fairly 
broken on the air, the enemy repHed, and the copper hail 
came whizzing and crushing among the brave artillerists. 
Quick as thought Ridgely hmbered up, and deployed from 
the road, his men jumped on their pieces and cheered the 
dragoons as they passed. The dragoons were stripped of 
every unnecessary encumberance, and brandished their 
weapons with their naked arms, that displayed the well-filled 
muscle, glittering like the bright steel they wielded. May, 
far in advance, seemed to be a living messenger of death 
that Ridgely had sent from his battery at its last discharge. 
There followed in his lead the long dark line of his squad- 
ron ; and as his charger rose upon the enemy's batteries, the 
rider turned to wave on his men. That instant the enemy 
poured a destructive fire of grape and cannister from their 
upper battery, bringing eighteen horses and seven men to 
the ground. The Mexicans were completely driven from 
their guns, and their fire silenced. But, though repulsed, 
they were not yet conquered. Back they rushed to their 
guns, and commenced loading for another discharge upon 
the gallant squadron. May charged upon the gunners in 
the act of firing their pieces ; they fled, one officer alone 
remaining, who vainly endeavored to rally his men. Despair- 
ing of success, with his own hand he seized a match, when 
May ordered him to surrender. Discovering that the 
demand came from an officer, the Mexican touched his 
breast, and said, " General La Vega is a prisoner." 



Lieut. Newman, 

At Churubusco, Lieut. Newman, of the **Green Mountain 
Boys" lost his left arm, while charging with his regiment (the 
9th,) the ranks of the enemy. 



36 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

It was on this occasion that, a report having reached Gen. 
Scott that the 9th had fallen back, he rode towards the pos- 
ition occupied by Col. Ransom's men — and meeting an Aid 
of Gen. Pierce, eagerly inquired if it was so. "No, sir," re- 
plied the Aid ; "the 9th has charged — it has not fallen back." 
"Then" exclaimed the General, "the day is ours !" — thereby 
expressing thaf unbouded confidence in the New England 
bayonet, which is a favorite sentiment of the Hero of Lundy'» 
Lane. 



Afiecdote of Captain Mason, 

Captain Mason, in reconnoitring one of the enemy's works 
near the capital, advanced to within a short distance of the 
enemy's batteries, when a Mexican officer with a small escort 
rode towards him. Captain Mason drew his revolver. The 
Mexican then in Spanish saluted " Good morning." The 
captain responded. The Mexican then said, " You seem 
to be very curious : suppose you come a little closer." "No 
I thank you, sir, I can see very well where I am." "Walk 
inside, sir ; we will endeavor to treat you as well as the ac- 
commodations of the camp will enable us." " I am much 
obliged to you, sir, for your kindness, but prefer partaking of 
your hospitalities on some other occasion ; and, holding his 
spy glass to his eye, he continued, " I only want at the pre- 
sent to see how you are situated. I can see two guns in em- 
brasure, one in barbet, and I think you have one in embra- 
sure a little further to the left. That gun I see your men 
loading, I do not think you will be able to bring it bear on 
me, as I will keep you between it and myself;" and moving 
a little to the right, he continued his observations. One of 

the escort then spoke in English, and said, "You d d 

rascal, you knov/ better than to come in here. If I was to 
get hold of you, I'd cut your d d throat." 

The Captain quietly finished his reconnoisance, and offer- 



ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE SANTA ANNA. 37 

ing his salaam to the Mexicans, wheeled his horse and rode 
off; the Mexicans returning to their ranks much chagrined 
at not being able to decoy ihe daring officer into the net they 
had spread for him. 



An attemjjt to capture Santa Anna, 
Late in the evening, a secret expedition set out from the 
city of Puebia, about three hundred and fifty strong, under 
the command of Brigadier General Lane. The object of 
the night march was known only to the general ; yet the 
officers and troops felt, having unlimited confidence in their 
commander, that it was more than worthy of the sacrifice of 
comfort they were called upon to make, by a night ride and 
during a cold rain. On leaving La Puebia the command 
took the Vera Cruz road ; but after riding about twenty 
miles it turned into a track, but little better than a mule path, 
covered with broken and jagged limestone rock, that ren- 
dered the rapid travelling extremely painful to both horse 
and rider. They, however, bore it admirably ; and, at 
about 5 o'clock, in the morning, the troops took up their 
quarters at a hacienda, near the village of Santa Clara, after 
having accomplished a march of over forty miles. 

At this place the general informed the officers, that his 
immediate object now was to capture Santa Anna, who, he 
had information, was at Tehuacan, with about one hundred 
and fifty men. In order that the Mexican chieftian might 
not obtain information 6f the presence of his troops in this 
section of country, the general ordered every Mexican in 
the hacienda, and every one found on the road during the 
day, to be arrested and kept close until he left in the even- 
ing. The order was strictly enforced; and at about dusk, 
the march for Tehuacan, distant about forty miles, was taken 
up, in the full expectation that the wily Mexican would soon 
be within their grasp. 



38 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Shortly after leaving th(i hacienda, at a part of the road 
where it runs through a deep and narrow cut, and before the 
moon rose, the general and his staff, riding in advance, 
came upon a party of Mexicans, armed, before either saw 
the other, at a distance of twenty feet. The Mexicans, 
eight in number, were instantly disarmed ; but in the rear of 
them was found a carriage, from which stepped a Mexican, 
with a passport from Gen. Smith, allowing him to travel 
from Mexico to Orazaba and back, widi an escort of eight 
armed servants. This being discovered, the arms were of 
course returned, and the gavalcade permitted to go on. 

Within eight or ten miles of Tehuacan, the guide received 
information that Santa Anna was, without doubt, at that 
place, and had with him from one hundred to two hundred 
men. With renewed hope every man now spurred his 
* jaded steed,' and on they went quick enough until within 
five miles of the town, where a halt of half an hour was 
made, and the plan of attack and capture disclosed hy the 
general to his officers. The party mounted ; orders were 
given to observe the strictest silence during the remainder of 
the march. The order was obeyed, for every man had an 
intense anxiety to obtain the prize ahead. 

At early dawn the troops had arrived within half a raiic 
of Tehuacan. The town was in sight ; and the flitting to 
and fro of lights, together with the discharge of a solitary 
gun, gave hopes of meeting the enemy. As the command 
came to the entrance of the town, the dragoons and rifle? 
dashed to the right and left, and in a^-few minutes every out- 
let was stopped ; the rangers galloped ahead toward the 
plaza, with their six-shooters cocked, glancing an eye on 
every side, with the belief that the enemy was on the house- 
tops. The rangers in the plaza, in a moment squads were 
galloping through the streets ; but no enemy was to be 
found, and in a few minutes the general had the mortification 
to learn that the great object of his search had fled two hours 



CAPTAIN JO. jj^ 

before he had arrived, and had taken the road to Oajaca, 
with an escort of seventy-five mounted men. The national 
flags hung out from the residences of foreigners, and white 
flags from the houses of Mexicans in every part of the 
town, told that the approach of the troops was known in 
advance ; and it was with chagrin that the general learned 
that the Mexican, whose coach and escort was stopped 
shortly after leaving the hacienda, sent by a short route 
across the mountains one of his servants to communicate to 
Santa Anna, that American troops were on the road, and, as 
he believed, with the intention of capturing him. 

Though General Lane's deportment throughout this ex- 
pedition was that of an accomplished officer, yet, had he 
have held the Mexican with his escort under arrest for a 
few hours, without the possibility of dishonoring the passport 
of an American general, Santa Anna would, most probably, 
have been a prisoner of war. As it was, the object of the 
expedition failed ; and the only solace the Americans had 
for their disappointment was the appurtenances of Santa 
x\nna's military wardrobe, which he had left in his hurry to 
escape. A richly gold laced coat, worth about seven or 
eight hundred dollars, fell to the lot of Col. Hays. The 
numerous other articles were divided among the officers, 
Gen. Lane only reserving to himself an excellent field-glass, 
ag a trophy of the self-styled "■ Napoleon of the West." 



Captain Jo. 
During Col. Doniphan's march from El Paso to Chihua- 
hua, the black servants of the different officers of the regi- 
ment formed themselves into a company. There were 
twelve of them, of which number eleven were officers and 

one high private. Jo. , servant to Lieut. , was 

elected Captain. He was the blackest of the crowd, and 



40 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

sported a large black feather, with a small black hat ; also 
a large sabre, with an intensely bright brass hilt ; which 
same sabre was eternally getting involved in the intricate 
windings of his bow legs. With Jo for captain, they were 
a formidable body ; and to hear them talk, they would work 
wonders. 

During the battle of Sacramento, however, the company 
was not to be seen ; but after the action was over, they were 
espied breaking out from the wagons, and joining in the 
pursuit. That evening "one of the officers attacked Jo 
about his company. 

" Well, Jo, I hear your men were hid behind the wagons 
during the fight?" 

" Massa, Fse berry sorry to say it am de fact. De men 
wouldn't fight. I called on de patriotism ob de company, 
I injoked dem by all dey hold near and dear in dis world 
and de next. But it was no use ; de cowards would get on 
de wrong side ob de wagons." 

*' But what did you do, Jo, when you found your men 
would not fight? " 

*' Why, de fact am dis, de fire kept gettin' hotter and 
hotter, and dis nigga kept gettin' cooler and cooler ; so, de 
best thing I thought dis nigga could do, was to get behind 
de wagons his self! " 



The Soldier's Bible. 
After the storming and capture of Chapultepec, the gallant 
9th infantry, under Major Seymour (the brave and lamented 
Ransom having just before fallen on the heights of Chapulte- 
pec,) found himself with others at the aqueduct, under the 
walls of the city. Here it sustained a most deadly fire from 
the enemy's balls and escopetas. Bomb shells, grape, can- 
ister and musket balls flew thick and fast around them, killing 
and wounding a number of his best and bravest men. Lieut. 



ANECDOTE OF SANTA ANNA. 41 

Jackson, company F, of the 9th, during the melee, received 
an escopeta ball in his breast, which, glancing off, whizzed 
upon the ground for a great distance, and must have killed 
him dead upon the spot but for a fortunate incident, — he car- 
ried in his vest pocket a small copy of the bible, a precious 
volume, the gift his sister, just before leaving his New Eng- 
land home. The ball struck the book and made a deep hole 
in it, but it proved as good a breastwork on the occasion as 
the cotton bags did at New Orleans to the troops of General 
Jackson and saved the life of its owner. 



Anecdote of Santa Anna. 
The following is copied from the Diarioy the official paper 
of the Mexican government: "During ihe action of the 
20th inst., while our troops were retiring from the bridge of 
Churubusco to Candelaria. still combating with the forces 
that charged after them, four dragoons, and a captain 
of the enemy threw themselves forward into our column with 
such rapidity, that they were not observed till they arrived at 
the works of Candelaria. They were there first recognized 
as enemies, and fired on by the garrison, by which the four 
dragoons and the captain's horse were killed. The captain, 
on regaining his feet, was surrounded by some of the Presi- 
dent's aids, and other officers who came with bis column. 
They were about to kill him, wh-en the PresideM interposed, 
and ordered them only ta disarm him;. His excellency, after 
taking a turn along the embattled ranks, returned to the place 
where they had their prisoner, when one of the officers said 
to him, " Genera^ this man ©ugbt to be &bot ; he has himself 
confessed that he came here for the purpose of killing your 
excellency." *' How so, what says he? inquired the Presi- 
dent. ** He says," was the reply, " that learning from one 
of the prisoners that your excellency was with this column, 
4* 



42 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

he^ with the four soldiers that followed him, took the resola- 
tion of reaching and slaying your excellency ; for if they ac- 
complished this it would be a most glorious act, and still more 
so if they should perish in doing it." Admiring their daring 
bravery, the President replied: "Now, less than ever, will 
I allow any harm to be done him. He is prisoner of war ; 
and let him who lays hands on him beware. Alas ! if I had 
many officers hke liim, Scott would not now be so near us." 



" Ten strike! Set 'em upT 

During the battle of Monterey a detachment of volunteers 
were ordered forward to protect Bragg's battery, while dra- 
goon horses could be procured to supply the places of those 
shot down by the enemy. Marching hurriedly out they were 
in some confusion, which was observed by a party of Mexican 
lancers, who, supposing them to be retreating, instantly char- 
ged upon thf^m. The officer, seeing their approach, drew 
up his men in order behind a chaparral fence and awaited 
their charge. On they came, full tilt, expecting to dislodge 
ihe volunteers by their furious onset ; but at a proper distance 
they received a volley from the volunteers, which tumbled 
fifteen or twenty in the dust. Not relishing this unexpected 
reception, they turned and fled ; in the mean time a howitzer 
had been brought to bear on them from the battery, the first 
shell of which cut down ten of the hindmost of the retreating 
lancers. " Good Tick!" shouted one of the b'hoys, " a ten 
strike, by (t — d ! Set 'cm vjp /" 

This anecdote reminds us of an old Texan, who, on the 
afternoon of the 23d September, got strayed away from his 
comrades, by some accident, in the streets of Monterey, and 
fell in with a company of the regular infantry. These he 
half joined, h'ghting partly on " his own account" while at 
the same time he endeavored to conform as much as possible 



*• GIVE THEM H LL." 43 

to the discipline of his new acquaintances. In addition to a 
heavy fire of grape from the batteries, there was an incessant 
rattHng of small arms from the tops of the neighboring build- 
ings ; but the worst customers our troops had to contend with 
were an old man and a boy, upon the nearest house, who 
were loading and firing their escopetas as fast as possible, and 
with an accuracy of aim that killed or crippled at every shot. 
The regulars had discharged their muskets at them several 
times, yet without effect ; but now came the turn of the old 
Texan. Watching his chance, he waited until the old man 
and the lad raised themselves above the parapet. No sooner 
did he get them in range than he cracked away, and with 
such unerring aim that the same ball pierced both. " Dubs''' 
ejaculated the old veteran, as the twain staggered and fell, 
and as he said it he brought the breech of his rifle to the 
ground with a jerk that well nigh broke the stock. Those 
who have not yet forgotten their marbles, will be more than 
half inclined to laugh at the earnestness of the Texan, in his 
anxiety to count " dubs.'" 



''Give them H—ll!'' 
Late in the day at Buena Vista, during the last charge of 
the Mexican Lancers, the Kentucky regiment, after having 
crossed a deep ravine, were nearly surrounded by the enemy. 
An officer was despatched to General Taylor, to know 
whether they must retreat, as it was almost impossible to 
stand their ground against the overwhelming numbers of the 

enemy. In a few moments the officer, Capt. , returned. 

"Boys," said he, *' Old Rough says to give them H — 11 ! " 
It acted like an electric shock. The regiment raised a 
scream of joy, and rushed on to the charge, roaring in the 
ears of the * yellow bellies,' "Hurrah for old Kentuck ! " 



44 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Scrcjiading vs Discipline. 

Old Rough and Ready is as much noted for his contempt 
of unnecessary discipline, as Gen. Wool is for his strong 
observance of every point of military regulalio'Vis. An amu- 
sing incident illustrative of the prevailing traits of the separate 
commanders occured while the army was encamped at Agua 
Nueva. 

Some of the officers were in the habit of whillng away 
part of the night in a sort of uncouth serenade of a medley 
of instruments, the best the camp afforded. One evening 
they repaired to the plain tent of Gen. Taylor, and fairly 
"waked an echo of the spheres" with the heartiness of their 
serenade to the popular "Rough and Ready." The old 
general appeared before his tent, with a broad smile upon his 
features, and invited the 'band' to "step into his tent and *wet 
their whistles' with some of his Madeira or Monongahela !" 
The company were delighted with their reception, and, after 
playing " Hail Columbia" and " Taylor's march," left the 
hospitable old 'Rough and Ready' and proceeded to the 
quarters of Gen. Wool, the second in command. They 
played several airs before there was the least intimation that 
the General was within hearing ; but they soon had a taste 
of his hospitality, for a Corporal's guard, by command of 
Gen. Wool, marched them off to the guard-house, in violation 
of the 571st rule of the service against playing musical in- 
struments in the camp. 



Ludicrous PicUire of General Pillow, 
The general's plan of battle, and the disposition of his hrcesr 
were most judicious and successful. He evinced on this, 
as he has done on other occasions, that masterly military ge- 
nius and profound knowledge of the science of waa-, whicb 
has astonished so much the mere martinets of the p^sfession.. 



LUDICROUS PICTURE OF GEN. PILLOW. 45 

His plan was very similar to that by which Napoleon effected 
the reduction of the fortress of Ulm, and General Scott was 
so perfectly well pleased with it that he could not interfere 
with it, but left it to the gallant projector to carry it into glo- 
rious and successful execution. In this battle, with about 
4500 men, our army engaged an enemy with a force of 
16,000, occupying a position which could only be reached 
with extreme difficulty by inlantry, with entrenched works 
commanding the approach to it fof a mile round in every di- 
rection, with, as I have before observed, twenty-nine pieces 
of artillery. The victory was most brilliant and complete. 
Nothing could have been better planned than this battle. I 
must relate an interesting and exciting incident that occurred 
during the rage of the battle. A Mexican officer being seen 
by one of General Pillow's aids to leave the enemy's lines, 
and to advance several yards nearer our position, the gene- 
ral, as soon as he heard of the impudent rashness of the 
Mexican, put spurs to his charger, and galloped at full speed 
towards him. As soon as he got near to the Mexican, the 
general called out, in Spanish, " Saque su sabel para defen- 
derse — let the honor and prowess of our respective countries 
be determined by the issue of this combat." Straightway the 
Mexican drew his sword with one hand and balanced his 
lance in the other, and rushed towards our general, who, 
with a revolver in one hand and his sabre in the other, 
waited the onset of the Mexican. The combat was a long 
and severe one. The Mexican was a large, muscular man, 
and handled his arms with great vigor and skill, but our gen- 
eral was his superior in dexterity and coolness. At last the 
Mexican made one terrible charge at our general with his 
lance, which the latter evaded with great promptitude and 
activity, using his sword, he tossed the weapon of the Mexi- 
can high in the air, and then quietly blew his brains out with 
his revolver. Both the American and Mexican armies wit- 
nessed this splendid effort,* 

♦Extracted from the famous Loonidas Letter, attributed to Gen, Pillow, 



4(> ANECDOTES AND INCID^ENTS* 

Death of Major Ringgold. 

At the battle of Palo Alto fell Major Ringgold, a valuable?' 
and accomplished officer, whose death has been universally 
lamented. The flying artillery, adapted by him to the 
American Army, has proved of great utility in every engage- 
ment in which it has borne a part ; and, in fact, may be 
termed the life guard of our army. Upon the fields of Palo 
Alto and Resaca de la Palma it proved of eminent service, 
and saved the day at Buena Vista. 

His death is thus described by an able writer in one of 
the eastern papers. 

Major Ringgold having rode a little to the rear of the eight- 
een pounders, checked his horse in range of the Mexican 
batteries whose fire at this moment was concentrated on this 
point. At the same instant, Lieut. Col. Payne, inspector 
general of the army and acting as aid to Gen. Taylor, came 
up and got of Churchill permission to sight his pieces. This 
he did, and sent forth a thundering volley, opening a view of 
the sky through the Mexican ranks, A cloud of smoke 
enveloped Ringgold from their view, and instantly from the 
Mexican guns several large shot passed oiter Churchill's 
battery, throwing up a cloud of dust in the rear. In a mo- 
ment a soldier rushes forward towards Col. Payne exclaiming, 
'*Colonel, look there !" He points to where Ringgold lay 
bleeding on the neck of his dying horse. A six-pound shot 
had first struck bis right thigh and passing through his horse 
cut his left thigh in the same line in which the ball first struck 
him, exposing but not breaking the bones. Payne, Churchill, 
and several soldiers cluster around him, and to them, amid 
the rattling hail of the enemy's artillery, he said ; "Leave me ; 
there is work for you yonder. You must drive the Mexicans 
before you and save our comrades at Fort Brown !" Then 
taking a chain from his neck, and with it his gold watch, he 
handed them to Col. Payne, saying ; "Give that to my 
sister !" He took out his purse and handed that to Col. 
Payne also, with the same request. 



47 

Gen. Taylor^ Good Things. 

If Gen. Taylor did not say the good things that are as- 
cribed to him, we must give the gentlemen who have put 
them in his mouth, credit for an admirable perception of what 
is becoming in the mouth of a great commander. A. collec- 
tion of his reputed sayings in times of emergency, would be 
as fine an ' ana' as there is in print anywhere. His abrupt 
close of the conference with Ampudia, for instance, when 
treating for the surrender of Monterey, is as much to the pur- 
pose, and as full of meaning as anything in Wellington's 
despatches — " Sir, I hold you, and your town, and your 
army, in the hollow of my hand, ami you know it. The 
conference is closed — in thirty minutes you shall hear from 
my batteries." 

Of course Gen. Taylor w^ould not have said this to a gal- 
lant and respected enemy. He would have spoken in a very 
different vein to a brave and gallant general, who had main- 
tained his position as long as it could be maintained, and now 
having satisfied the demands of honor and duty to their full 
extent, was ready, with the frankness of a soldier and a gen- 
tleman, to accept the necessity of his position. But to 
Ampudia, neither brave nor gallant, and whiffling over a 
capitulation which he knew to be inevitable, the response 
was as fitting as it was well-timed and effective. 

There was, on the other hand, a delicious touch of humor 
in the old General's acknowledgement to the ' boys' who 
laughed at him for dodging. In the thickest of the fight, at 
Buena Vista, when the balls were flying ' considerable,' Gen. 
Taylor saw some of the men ducking their heads as the 
missiles whizzed by, and called out, " No dodging, gendemen, 
soldiers never dodge." But in a few minutes a twenty-four 
pounder came humming so near the old gentleman's nose, 
that he involuntarily ducked his own head — -whereat some of 
the ' boys' " snickered out." " Dodge the balls, gentlemen," 
exclaimed old Zach, as grave as a mustard pot; "dodge 
ihe bails, gentlemen, but don't run." 



48 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

In the same style was his quiet remark at Resaca de la 
Palma, where the balls made lively music, too. One of them 
cut off a piece of his coat-tail ; whereupon he dryly remarked 
to one that was near him, " These balls are getting excited." 

But the best thing he is said to have said, was also at 
Buena Vista. It was not only quaint, but grand ; there 
was a sort of heroic largeness about it, in conception and 
expression, than which, we know of nothing that more fills 
the mind's eye. It was when the last, desperate, almost 
overwhelming charge was made on Capt. Bragg's battery. 
The Captain saw the mighty cohort coming, with an anxious 
gaze, for there was no infantry at hand to sustain him. Place- 
ing his pieces in position, he hurried to the general, who was 
not far ofl^, to represent that his little band would be ridden 
over, and to beg for a reenforcements. " I have no reen- 
forceoient to give you," answered the general, '' but Major 
Bliss and I will support you." 

" Major Bliss and I" accordingly put spurs to their horses 
and took post by the cannon. We all know what the 
result was. 



A thrilling IncidenU 
Gloomy foreboding pervaded the American squadron sta- 
tioned off Vera Cruz at the time the batde of Buena Vista 
was reported to be in favor of Santa Anna. It was about 
dusk when this news so joyful to the Mexicans, was made 
known wittiin the wall of Vera Cruz. The firing of cannon, 
the blaze of rockets bursting in mid air, the rolling of drums, 
the displaying of flags from every prominent point, and the 
loud huzzas of the population, struck dismay among the brave 
tars composing our navy. These rejoicings of the Mexicans, 
however, were to perish by the rising northern blast, like bud- 
ding flowers which sometimes fall before they ripen to per- 
fection of beauty in the early spring time. For, whilst the 



^THRILLING SKETCH. 49 

rejoicings were progressing, a speck much whiter than the 
crested wave appeared bobbing up and down in the far dis- 
tance. The glasses were soon in requisition, and the little 
speck was magnified into a sail, above wliich floated in 
glorious triumph the stars and stripes of America. The 
fierce norther freshened every moment, and the foaming bil- 
lows succeeded each other in mad and powerful array. 

Great solicitation was felt by every one in the squadron for 
the safety of the frail craft which bore aloft the flag of our 
country. Now she was seen, and then to disappear; pres- 
ently she arose *'once more upon the waters," and came 
dashing proudly on. She soon became an object of univer- 
sal attraction. The bright galaxy of stars, shedding their 
lustre from an 'enormous' flag at her mast head, cast so 
much light upon the real character of the little skipper of 
the seas, that the attention of the Mexicans was alarmingly 
attracted. Sounds of rejoicing within the walls seemed to 
cease, and a big gun was elevated at the castle of San Juan 
de Ulua, to give the stranger rather a warm reception. As 
she came dashing through the spray, every heart in the 
squadron beat quicker and quicker with indescribable emo- 
tion ; all was breathless attention and anxiety ; it was, so to 
speak, like the calm which is the usual precursor of the 
storm. 

The news must be of a cheering nature, thought they on 
board our gallant navy, or such an enormous flag would not 
be unfurled to the o^ale. The launch came on before the 
breeze, and did not deviate from a given point, inside the 
vessels. To have gone to leeward she never could have 
made the vessels. Her course was straight, and when wiihin 
three hundred yards of the fortress a cannon was fired tiiere- 
from, and the ball passed across her bow. It made no dif- 
ference to the stout hearts on that little craft. Her course 
was steady ; and, when within one hundred and fifty yards 
of the castle, immediately in front, another cannon, mucii 
5 



50 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

larger than its predecessor, was fired, but it only gave the 
crew a good drenching, which, however, they had become 
familiar with by this time. So far the little craft escaped, 
and the valiant heroes at the castle determined to sink her. 
They fired another gun, but its huge messenger of death fell 
harmless. It was the parting gun. The launch soon hauled 
up alongside the flagship of the navy, and gave the joyful 
news that General Taylor had a rough and ready fight with 
Santa Anna at Buena Vista, and had put wooden-leg and 
his army to flight. What a glorious reaction immediately 
took place ! The good news was spread through the squad- 
ron by means of naval telegraph, and every stripe of bunting 
was flung to the breeze ; every sailor manned the rigging, 
and such hearty cheering wag never heard before. It was 
our turn ; long-toms were brought out, which sent the news 
of the glorious victory into the very heart of Mexico. 

That little Texas launch w-as manned only by two men and 
a small boy, all of whom hail from Texas The little fel- 
low had the helm at the time of the firing from the castle, 
and his steady and devoted attention to the commands of the 
two men reflected the highest honor upon his head and heart. 



The Lame Drummer. 

Whilst a regiment of volunteers were marching through 
Camargo, a captain, a strict disciplinarian, observing that 
one of the drums did not beat, ordered a lieutenant to in- 
quire the reason. The fellow, on being interrogated, 
whispered to the lieutenant, *' I have two ducks and a turkey 
in my drum, and the turkey is for the captain." This being 
revealed to the captain, he exclaimed, "Why didn't the 
drummer say he was lame ? 1 don't want men to do their 
duty when they are not able." 



GUERILLA FIGHT. 61 

Capt, Baylor\^ Fight with Guerillas, 
The frequent depredations of numerous guerilla parties 
upon the wagon trains of the American army, passing 
between Cerralvo and Monterey, were of so annoying a 
nature, that Col. Abbott, commandant at the former place, 
ordered Captain Baylor, with a small detachment; to proceed 
to several of the ranches in the neighborhood, and arrest all 
who bore the appearance of having participated in the assaults 
upon the trains ; and also to burn and destroy their habita- 
tions : thus taking summary vengeance upon those who 
carried on this barbarous kind of warfare. 

The captain accordingly proceeded, in obedience to his 
orders, and scoured the country for several miles around 
Cerralvo, taking some half-dozen or more prisoners. When 
about to return to the main road, the captain suddenly found 
himself surrounded by about two hundred Mexican guerillas. 
His own force numbered but twenty-seven, all told; yet the 
gallant captain determined upon giving the enemy battle. 
But he did not attempt such fearful odds vyithout first con- 
sulting his men ; who, to a nian, being all Texans, declared 
for fight. " Follow me, then," — exclaimed the heroic cap- 
tain — " we must cut through the enemy, or die in the 
attempt! " The little band sent up a shout, and swore io 
" stick to him to the death ! " 

The large body of the enemy had now entirely surroun- 
ded the devoted band ; yet every eye that gleamed in fiery 
hate around them seemed but to add another nerve to their 
heroism. The Mexicans threw their deadly lances* and 
fired their escopetas, which told fearfully upon the little 
band ; yet they were not idle, every shot brought a Mexicaji 
in agony to the dust. But soon they come hand to hand. 

The Mexican L:ince is attached to the saddle bow by means of a las^o, 
which enables the rider to regain his weapon after having hurled it at the ene- 
my. The Mexican Lancers' dexterous use of his lance has been a source of 
wonder and admiration to all who have witnessed the evolutions of their 
brilliant squadrons. 



o2 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

The brave Baylor was foremost in the thickest of the fight ; 
liis sword dealt deadly blows upon his enemies. But the 
unequal conflict could not last long. Already had half of 
the little band fallen. Captain Baylor, seeing that all would 
be lost unless an effort — a tremendous effort — was made to 
cut through the enemy's ranks, waved his sword to bid his 
remaining comrades follow, and made a dash through the 
lines. Terrible was the onslaught! The lances were 
ihrust in myriads against the breasts of the brave Texans, 
but with their swords they dashed them aside, and reached 
the open field ; they were no longer hemmed in, but only six 
men of the gallant twenty-seven remained ; three, partially 
wounded, escaped into the chapparal, and afterwards bore 
the lamentable news to Cerralvo. They last saw the brave 
Baylor with two of his men uhorsed, though still with sword 
in hand manfully combatting the enemy. 



Swapj}in'' Hosses. 

General Taylor's marque at Victoria was about a mile 
above that of General Patterson's, and between the two the 
Tennessee cavalry was encamped. General Taylor was 
riding from his quarters to Gen. Patterson's one day, upon 
a beautiful Mexican pony, and on his route passed close to 
a Tennessee trooper, who was rubbing down his horse. 
Totally ignorant of the rank of the plainly dressed old man, 
and struck by the beauty of his animal, he accosted him with 
" Look here, stranger, would'nt you like to swap that ar 
])ony ? " 

" No, friend," quietly responded the general, '* he is a 
favorite nag of mine, and I do not desire to part with him.'' 

A comrade of the trooper's, recognizing the general, said 

to him in an under tone, " Bill, you d d fool, don't you 

know who you're a talkin' to? That's Gineral Taylor! " 



BOMBAEDMENT OF FORT BROWN. 53 

Now, Bill, regarding General 'Old Rough and Ready' as 
the greatest naan on the face of the smiling earth, was terri- 
fied at finding that he had put his foot in it, and stammered 
out — *' G-g-gineral, J-I-I didn't know it was you — I beg 
p-p-pardon, gineral." The old commander kindly offered 
his hand to the trooper to reliere him from his embarrass- 
ment, inquired his name and residence, complimented the 
Tennesseeans, telling him he found them the bravest' ^he 
brave, and rode quietly on. 



Bombcu-dment of Fort Broicn. 

At noon, on the 2Sth of March, 1846, Gen. Taylor en- 
camped opposite the city of Matamoras, and gave orders for 
the commencement of the fortifications which were subse- 
quently^ called " Fort Brown." 

Shortly after, Gen. Taylor left the fort for Point Isabel, to 
prepare himself for battle, as well as to secure that position. 
The Mexicans, feeling that the snuall body left in the fort 
would be unable to resist them, commenced a bombardment 
on Sunday morning, May S, from a seven gun battery sta- 
tioned at the outskirts of Matamoras-. The fire was answered 
with effect by Major Browo', and in less than twenty minutes 
time one of the Mexican guns was blown twenty feet into the 
air, accompanied by torn and bleeding bodies. This had the 
effect of silencing the battery. The cannonading was re- 
sumed with few intermissions till midnight. During the day 
the Americans had one man killed, (Sergeant Weigart) and 
an artillery soldier woui-^ded. The Mexicans took to them- 
selves great glory for this dasy's achievement. An official 
despatch was forwarded to the Mexican government, setting 
the loss of the Americans at Jifty-six, and their own at one 
Sergeant and two artillery-men. The firing on the fort was 
feeard by Gen. Taylor at Point Isabel, and he immediately 
5* 



54 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS^ 

despacthed Captains May and Walker to> ascertain the con- 
dition of .Major Brown,; they returned with intelligence that 
he could resist any force that might be brought to. bear 
against it. 

The firing continued, with but casual iatermissionsy. until 
about 6 o'clock on Wednesday. Major Brown ordered the 
signal guns to be fired, as agreed upon between^ himself and 
the general-in-chief. The firing recommenced and continued 
until ten o'clock A.. M. just before which time the gallant 
Major Brown received a mortal wound from a falling shelL 
which took off one of his legs, and otherwise mangled him 
in a shocking manner. He was taken to the hospital and his 
leg amputated above the kneev He lingered until Saturday 
the 9th, whea he died, lamented by the army and the whole 
country. The command then devolved on Captain Hawkins, 
About this time jiarties of infantry and mounted men appeared 
in the rear of the fort, but a few rounds from Capt. Bragg's 
battery sent them back in hot haste. For several hours that 
brave and devoted band received a continual shower of shot 
and shells, which, for want of ammunition, they dared not 
return. At half past four o'clock a parley was sounded, and 
Gen. Arista sent a summons to the commander of the fort to 
surrender ^' for the sake of humanity," offering him one hour 
to return an answer, and threatening to put the garrison to the 
sword in case his demand was not complied with. This was 
a trying emergency. The garrison scarcely numbered three 
thousand men ; their enemy several thousands ! Captain 
Hawkins called a council of war, composed of the several 
company commanders in the fort, and laid the subject before 
them. They had neither time nor disposition to deliberate, 
" Defend the Fort to the Death .'" broke forth almost simul- 
taneously from the hps of that devoted band. The firing was 
renewed and continiued wntil sun-set. 

The tremendous fire of the enemy's batteries, continued 
throughout the entire day, and frequently part of the night, 
seemed to intimate to the besieged that there was but little 



ROMBARDMEXT OF FORT BROWN. 55 

hope for tbem. The brave defenders of the fort became ex- 
hausted,, and began to be indifferent of life ; when, during 
one of the intermissions, at about half past two, a heavy can- 
nonading was heard in the direction of Point Isabel, which 
revived the drooping spirits of that heroic band. It was the 
firing where Gen. Taylor was engaged with the Mexicans at 
Palo Alto. The Americans welcomed the sound with a 
tremendous shout. They knew that for Taylor to fight was 
to conquer. The enemy recommenced their bombardment 
with redoubled energy ; but the continuous and exulting 
shouts of the Americans finally silenced the bombardment. 
At sun-set, a Mexican deserter brought the news of the victory 
of Palo Alto ; and the wearied garrison felt that their labors 
and dangers were nearly closed. 

On Saturday the 9th of May, the 7th and last day of the 
bombardmeat, at about ten o'clock, a heavy discharge of 
shells, canister, and round shot was received from the Mex- 
ican batteries, which continued to pour out shells until about 
half past two, when a rather severe connonading was heard 
in nearly the same direction as that of the preceding day. It 
was the guns of Resaca de la Palma. The defenders of the 
fort again raised such shouts as seemed to paralyze the 
Mexican batteries, for they ceased their action until about 
6 o'clock, when they fired their last shots and joined the 
retreating cavalry and infantry that were escaping from the 
disastrous field of Resaca de la Palma. 

The defence of the "Alamo," and that of Croghan at 
*' Fort Erie," afford, perliaps, the only parallel to this glo- 
rious defence. And they stand upon the pages of history 
as memorable instances of what may be accomplished by 
the determined bravery of a few, against an opposing force 
greatly superior in numbers. How different might have 
been the result, if the ten thousand troops within the 
walls of Monterey had been actuated by one jot of tlie in- 
domitable spirit of the heroes of the Alamo, Fort Erie, or 
Fort Brown I 



56 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

An American Matron. 
When the afflicting intelligence was conveyed to the 
mother of Lieut. B of his death, (on the 9th of Sep- 
tember, in the battle of Molino del Rey,) not a tear fell from 
her eyes, not a sigh escaped from her breast — •' Is he dead? 
Did he do his duty? Thank God, he left no widow ! " 
were the only words she uttered. What a sublime illustra- 
tion of a woman's heart was this — ^^TlianJc God, he left no 
Widow!'''' How perfectly free from selfishness the thought 
that prompted the expression ! Even when she felt that 
the ties of love were severed, and knew that her life was 
rendered a barren winter, instead of the joyous summer it 
had been before, warmed by the sunny smiles of her darling 
boy, yet a generous feeling for her sex drove every thought 
of selfishness from her breast, and she was thankful that no 
widow's or orphan's wail would mourn a husband or a 
father, and that a mother alone was left to sorrow over his 
loss ! ^'•Did he do his duty 9 " Patriotism was paramount 
to affection — Love of country, and anxiety for her child''s 
honor, stood proudly forth before the throbbings of a 
breaking heart ! 



Anecdote of Gen, JJirea. 
Four or five privates of the 2nd Ohio regiment were 
taken prisoners by General Urrea, having straggled from the 
main body of a train guard passing from Cerralvo to Mon- 
tery. They were afterwards marched to San Luis Potosi, 
and treated with considerable rigor. On their being brought 
before him, General Urrea expressed himself as follows : 
" The Americans are viumaJ, (very bad,) — that no more than 
200 or 300 of them (alluding to Col. Morgan's command, 
on the 20th of Feb.) fought 1500 of his men — that they 
stood up in an open plain, and received his fire for half a 



ANECDOTE OF CAPTAIN COFFY. 57 

day, and had the impudence to wave their caps and yell like 
wild Camanches, and bid defiance to the whole Mexican 
world ! " 

This anecdote was related by Dr. Bullock, an American 
resident at Cadaretta. General Urrea also told the doctor 
that " he did not believe these voluntarios fought for love of 
country, but for mere love of fighting. And that he believed 
they would as lief shoot a Mexican as some wild animal; 
and he considerad these soldados Americanos no hueno — 
mucho dlaholo ! " 



Anecdote of CajHaln Coffy. 

The 2nd Illinois Regiment received, with the 2nd Indiana, 
the first and heaviest fire of the enemy on the morning of 
the 23d, on the field of Buena Vista. The 2nd Indiana 
retreated in disorder, and left the 2nd Illinois with two pieces 
of light artillery, commanded by Lieut. French, who was shot 
down by his gun, the only force at this critical moment to 
resist the advancing line of the enemy, more than ten times 
their number. 

At this time, Captain CofFy, who commanded a company 
in the Illinois Regiment, received a severe wound in the left 
arm, fracturing it ; the lieutenant colonel was standing near, 
the gallant captain came up to him and said — " Colonel, I 
am wounded, but must stick to my company." In a few 
minutes he returned to the same officer, and exclaimed' — 
*' Colonel, they've shot me again." He had then received 
a ball in his left shoulder. " I am sorry for you — stay with 
your company as long as possible," was the reply to him. 
Captain C. returned to his company, and in a few moments 
an 18-pound shot struck the ground a iew feet before him, 
ricochetting over his head, and covering him with sand and 
gravel, and stinging him severely with the pebbles thrown 



58 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

into his face. Faint with the loss of blood from his two 
wounds, and under the impression that the explosion of a 
shell had severely wounded him, he returned a third time to 
the same officer, exclaiming — " Colonel, I am now torn to 
pieces, and must get away if I can, but never yield the day 
to them." And yet he was neither a Mississippian or a 
Kentuckian, but a plain, straight-forward Illinois man, that 
required to be shot twice and torn to pieces once before he 
gave up. 



Storming of Chapultepcc. 
On the evening of the 12di, about 5 o'clock. General Pil- 
low came to our regiment, 15th infantry, saying that this 
post, Chapultepec, must fall by the next morning, and that 
we could not advance without its possession, and that he had 
the selecting of a storming party, from the different regiments, 
men who would be daring enough to engage in this arduous 
undertaking, and who would either seal their devotion to their 
country with their hearts' blood, or gain immortal laurels. He 
called upon those who were willing to join this dangerous 
expedition to step forward ; and how many do you think 
there were ready ? Only one man, and he was our leader, 
and he offered his whole regiment, man for man ; not a single 
man would stand back, although the castle lay before us, on 
an almost perpendicular rock, and bade defiance all day to 
our artillery, shewing us seventeen open-mouthed cannon, 
and thousands of Mexicans crouched on its bastions. Never- 
theless, every one of the boys wanted to be of the party, and 
with impatience they begged of the general to go at the work 
that same night. This was a great moment. A tear stole 
down the cheek of General Pillow, expressive of the feelings 
which took possession of his breast. With but few heartfelt 
words, he thanked us for our readiness^ and called us, as he 



STORMING OF CHAPULTEPEC. 59 

has done ever since, his "gallant 15th." The attack could 
not, however, take place that evening, but we moved silently 
into the great corn magazine, immediately at the foot of the 
rock, to be ready for the work at break of day. Pillow him- 
self took quarters in our midst. 

# * * * * # 

We advanced, after three or four more shots from the 
enemy, so far that the walls of the castle protected us com- 
pletely, whi!e the Mexicans blazed away with their small 
arms over our heads. Now the call was made for ladders, 
a few of which made their appearance ; but several times 
the carriers were either killed or wounded, and the ladders 
tumbled half way down the hill again. On a sudden the 
fire of our battery ceased, and a lieutenant of the New York 
Rifle Regiment, with a flag in hand, attempted to mount a 
ladder, when the heads of a dozen Mexican rascals popped 
over the walls, and fired their muskets — and the gallant 
lieutenant was wounded in the head ; haply, hov^/ever, not 
mortally. This was the grand finale, and the retreating of 
the enemy commenced in right good earnest. But, oh, God ! 
the one ladder, which was near where I stood, was not 
enough, nor were the six or eight more which were soon 
procured. Despairing of our chance to be the first upon 
the walls of the castle, we commenced lifting each other up, 
by climbing on one another's shoulders, and soon the walls 
were crowded with Uncle Sam's boys. Onward, over 
death, we wended our way to the interior of the castle, 
which the Mexicans defended step by step, while in the 
rear of a platform they once more posted themselves and 
continued the fight. Soon, however, they began to give 
way, and hundreds took to their heels towards the city ; our 
men followed quickly from building to building, and in less 
than three quarters of an hour from the time of the com- 
mencement of the attack, the banner of the free waved in 
triumph from the main turret of the castle. The colors of 



60 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

three regiments were nearly at the same time on the spot ; 
but the colors of the New York regiment were first unfurled. 
With tears in his eyes, General Scott expressed his 
thanks to us. '* Had I millions of thanks to give you, it 
would not be enough. Oh, that I had a thousand arms to 
press you to my bosom ! " were some of his words, while 
he embraced the officers, and shook hands with such of the 
others as were within his reach. — I^ettcr from an officer. 



Lessons at " Single SlicJc.^^ 

Two of Lieut. Burford's men had been engaged in settling 
a little difference by the approved method of knocking one 
another down and pummelling each other's faces ; and so 
hard did the blows resound on the empty pates of the dra- 
froons as to attract the attention of the commander. He im- 
mediately hastened to the spot, when the combattants desis- 
ted and were about separating, but the lieutenant stopped 
xhem, and ascertaining the cause of the quarrel, informed 
them he was willing to gratify their desire to thrash each 
other, but that it must be done in a better and fairer manner. 
He accordingly despatched the sergeant of the guard for three 
good stout sticks, and upon their being brought, he gave one 
to each of the men, and the third to the sergeant, and placed 
the two men whhin fair striking distance. *' Now," said the 
lieutenant, " Smith, you are number one, and you, Jones are 
number two. When I say number one. Smith will strike 
Jones, and when I call out number two, Jones will strike 
Smith, Now, then, make ready. Number one." Whack ! 
came the stick of Smith upon the shoulders of Jones. ♦' Num- 
ber two." Crack ! came down number two's stick on num- 
ber one's head, and as " one, two," — " one, two," were 
called in rapid succession, the dust flew out of the combat- 
tant's jackets in fine style. At length number one began to 



BATTLE OF HUAMANTLA. 61 

think that what was fun for the company, who were all gig- 
gling or grimly smiling or watching the curious combat, and 
for the lieutenant, who conducted the exhibition with a face 
as stern and unmoved as a marble monument, was all but 
death for him, and raising his stick as number two was coming 
down upon him like " ten hundred bricks," he warded off 
the blow. " Stop !" cried the lieutenant sternly. " How 
dare you guard off his blow, Smith? Such a proceeding 
cannot be tolerated, and you must receive a double blow. 
Hit him again, number two." The order was obeyed. 

** If the lieutenant please," murmured the discomfitted 
Smith, as he winced under the flagellation of number two' " I 
don't think that's fliir, sir." 

" No matter what you think,* replied his superior, " 1 
think it is, and that is all-sufficient. Make ready ; number — " 
" If the lieutenant please," hastily interposed number one, 
*' I'm perfectly satisfied." 

" Oh, you are ; and what are your views on the same 
subject, Mr. Jones?" blandly enquired the officer. 

" The same, sir, if the lieutenant please," said number 
two, rubbing his shoulders. 

" Very well, then, you can go ; but let me hear of no 
more quarrelling or fighting in the company for the next six 
months. The scene was so perfectly ridiculous, and the 
poor fellows were so thoroughly laughed at by their comrades, 
they soon shook hands and became friends. 



Battle of Hnamantla and death of Caj)tain Walker, 
On the evening of October 8, the train halted at a hacien- 
da two and a half leagues from Nopaluca. Geneal Lane 
sent out a spy to the town of Huamantla that night, having 
received information that Santa Anna had gone thither during 
the day before. The next, morning he returned, and reported 
6 



62 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

that the cavalry of the enemy had left the town, leaving be- 
hind six pieces of artillery. Orders were immediately issued 
for the cavalry under Captain Walker, Col. Gorman's regi- 
ment, Major Lally's battalion, Colonel Wynkoop's regiment, 
Captain Taylor's battery, and Captain Hehzelman's battalion 
to be in readiness to march for the town, leaving the train with 
about eleven hundred men and two pieces of artillery, under 
the command of Colonel Brough. 

At eleven o'clock the whole moved off in fine style. The 
cavalry were ordered to keep some distance in advance. They 
had gone about two miles when Captain Walker determined 
to push on at a gallop and surprise the enemy. For five miles 
the cavalry moved at a very rapid pace until they reached the 
outskirts of the town, when jCaptain Walker gave the orders 
to form fours and close up. He then entered a very narrow 
lane, both sides of which were lined with thick maguey, so 
narrow in many places that the sets of fours had to be broken 
and the column moved by twos. On they went at a trot, 
until the lane opened into the main street leading into the 
plaza, when, in column of four, the order was given to draw 
sabres and charge. Then rose a wild yell and such a charge ! 
The flashing of the sabres, the thundering of the horses' feet 
over the paved streets, were enough to strike terror into the 
hearts of the enemy. Two of their cannon were pointed up 
the street, another pointed down a cross street and the fuse 
was burning in it. The terrified artillerymen moved merely 
to the sides of the houses, at whom our men made their thrusts 
and right and left cuts, killing many in this manner. The 
cavalry rushed over their cannon ; the lancers, about three 
or four hundred, fled, and the men separated into small par- 
ties, pursuing them beyond the town, on the outskirts of which 
a good many were killed. Captain Walker went beyond 
the town for the purpose of overtaking the artillery which had 
left the place. Captain Lewis went in another direction for 
the same purpose. Captain Besangon was ordered to follow 



DEATH OF CAPT. WALKER. 68 

the road to see if the artillery could be overtaken. In the 
meantime, most of the men having gone in pursuit, Captain 
Loyall with a few men, assisted by Adjutant Claiborne, se- 
cured some fifty or sixty prisoners at their quarters, together 
with their arms, &:c. Lieut. Claiborne then proceeded to se- 
cure and bring up to the Plaza the cannon, (three pieces,) 
that had b(!en captured. Captain Walker returned about 
this time, and going to the Plaza, was collecting the men. 
Lieut. Anderson of tbe Georgia volunteers, pursued and cap- 
tured Major Lurbide and Colonel La Vega, (a brother of 
the General,) and a lieutenant ; these he delivered to Cap- 
tain Walker. Lieutenant Claiborne, assisted by Corporal 
Hescock and private Myers, and one or two others, limbered 
up the six pounder and brought it to the Plaza ; leaving it 
limbered up and the mules standing in it, and returning to 
get the four-pounder, the lieutenant was in the act of bring- 
ing it up when he was forced to leave it by the appearance 
of all Santa Anna's cavalry, two thousand five hundred strong. 
Corporal Tilghman, of company C, (rifles,) brought up a 
small howitzer. Private Dusenbery took a lieutenant of ar- 
tillery prisoner, and turned him over to Surgeon Reynolds. 
By this time a good many of the men had returned, and were 
in the Plaza in scattered groups, when the lancers charged 
them suddenly and unexpectedly. The troops received them 
with great bravery, and kept the plaza, with the exception of 
a few under Captain Walker, who retired by a street leading 
west from the plaza ; they were joined by Lieutenant Clai- 
borne and his party, who were approaching the square. Cap- 
tain Walker led them from the plaza — the enemy close on 
them at a charge ; he turned the next street to his left, while 
the enemy seeing the four-pounder, rushed to it to retake it. 
It was fortunate for the few men with Captain Walker that 
the Mexicans saw this piece, for at the very next corner a still 
larger force met him ; he wheeled, and dashing swiftly past 
the rear of those who had cut him off from the plaza, again 



64 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

entered it. Here the men dismounted and occupied the con- 
vent yard, together with a large house on the corner of the 
square. 

At this juncture, Captain Walker, while examining the ap- 
proach of the enemy, and looking at the four pounder on our 
right, was shot from behind, from a house displaying the white 
flag. He sunk down immediately, and was borne into the 
yard, the men bursting into tears as the cry spread amongst 
them, " Captain Walker is killed." 



Camp Hydropathy. 
While the army was encamped at Buena Vista, the soldiers 
frequently amused themselves by getting ' corned' ; One 
day a dragoon rode into camp so drunk as to be scarcely able 
to keep a straight seat on his horse. One of his comrades 
seized his horse's bridle and endeavored to hold the animal, 
but the rider was obstinately drunk and digging his spurs into 
his horse, he sprang from the grasp of his comrade and dash- 
ed off at a terrific pace. After driving up to a thick wall 
and striking his head against it violently, he wheeled, and 
bolting off in a different direction, the rider was thrown for- 
cibly to the ground, and it was thought killed. Upon exam- 
ination, however, he was found to be only stunned, and to 
have received no injury of a serious character. " The big 
drunk" was upon him very strong, though, and the lieutenant 
ordered buckets of water to be brought, and the drunken 
man to be stripped. After half a dozen buckets of water had 
been dashed over him, the operators withdrew, and the man 
began to " come to." He raised himself up and stared va- 
cantly about, but almost immediately lay down again and 
relapsed into his drunken fit. A few more pails of water 
nearly restored him, and upon the lieutenant's calling him by 
name, he uttered a very thick and puddingly " S-w-i" !" 



COL. WYNKOOP AND CAPT. WALKER. 65 

" Get up, sir," said his officer. After several ludicrous and 
ineffectual attempts, he raised himself and hraced up against 
a tree. " Where are your clothes, sir?" demanded the lieu- 
tenant, sternly. The poor wretch surveyed himself from top 
to toe with the most bewildered expression of countenance, as 
if to assure himself that he was not dreaming, and, apparently 
not perfectly convinced of the reality of his being in a most 
complete state of nudity, he passed his hand over his breast 
and shoulders, and then turning to his officer with a most 
indescribable air, he replied, " It makes no difference," taking 
another survey of his person, and then of the soldiers who 
stood about him, he cried out in a most ludicrous tone of 
command, " Bring another bucket of water," amidst a roar 
of laughter. A frequent application of the pure element, not 
in infinitesimal doses, soon restored him sufficiently to admit 
of his being ' bucked' under the waggon for several hours. 



Colonel Wy^iJiooj) and Captam Walli'er. 
I heard a touching incident of Colonel Wynkoop and 
Captain Walker yesterday, which I fear I cannot give as I 
received it. It is known, probably, in the United States, 
that difficulties had existed between these officers, which 
their mutual friends always regretted. They had, I believe, 
preferred charges against each other ; but when Colonel 
Wynkoop heard that Captain Walker was seriously wounded, 
and not likely to live, he sent a staff officer to request an 
interview with the dying officer. Before the return of the 
messenger, the Colonel hastened to where the captain lay, 
and found him dead. The shock to him was overwhelming, 
and he could scarcely utter a word. In a few moments, 
however, he said, with much emotion, *' I would have given 
six years of my life for one word with that man ! " — and 
6* 



66 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

turned from the corpse to ask of General Lane the command 
of Walker's troop, that he might dash upon the retreating 
enemy, and revenge the death of the gallant trooper. The 
General refused his request, as Walker's men had been 
greatly reduced, and those not killed were much exhausted ; 
the colonel returned to his command with a heavy heart. — 
Letter from an officer. 



The night after the battle of Buena Vista, 

The night after the batde of Buena Vista was one of the 
most intense anxiety to the participators in the bloody fight. 
After twelve hours of obstinate fighting, with the final result 
yet unknown, nothing but water having passed the lips of those 
gallant men for the last twelve hours, the flower of their re- 
spective corps dead or wounded, and the certainty of a re- 
newal of the onslaught the next day, it is hard to imagine a 
period more calculated to " try men's souls" than that night. 
After the cessation of the fight, came the lassitude superin- 
duced by the extraordinary excitement of the day : men fell 
exhausted, and bivouacked in line — " the weary to rest and 
the wounded to die." The depression of physical energy 
was so great that neither hunger nor danger could incite them. 
That bloody field was at eight o'clock as silent as the grave. 
It can only be surmised what were the feelings of that " great 
old man" upon contemplating the results of that day's work. 
No officers sought repose, and the camp fires, which on other 
occasions had been the scene of jest and merriment, were 
now still, and the deep anxiety depicted on the faces of the 
various groups of officers impressed you with a 
solemnity, a foreboding of ill, that was truly painful. All 
eyes were turned ever and anon to the tent of one upon whom 
all their hopes were placed, but not a light, not a movement 
could be discerned. The occasion made that single tent an 



A MEXICAN FANATIC. 67 

object of intense solicitude. Some wondered if he was alone, 
others would have given their earthly wealth to have known 
the thoughts, the hopes, the wishes, and the intentions of 
the old hero ; but all was dark and silent as the tomb. Capt. 
L., of the Topographical Engineers, had visited the battle 
ground at night. He had made some discoveries he thought 
important to be communicated to the commander-in-chief. 
On approaching the general's quarters, he overtook his ser- 
vant, who had been attending to his master's cavalry, and 
inquired if the ' old man ' was alone and awake. " I spec 
he fast asleep Captin, for he eat a monstrous hearty supper, 
and when he eat a big supper he sleep bery hard and sound, 
and I reckon you wont see ' de old hos ' 'fore four o'clock 
in de mornin. Listen, you hear him snore clean out here." 
When the Captain made a report of this last reconnoisance, 
joy and satisfaction were diffused throughout the camp. They 
knew that all was safe. 



Capture and death of a Mexican Fanatic. 
While at Camargo, that gallant Texan officer. Colonel 
Cooke, first heard of the inhuman massacre near Ceralvo. 
He started in pursuit of the murderers, to rain down retribu- 
tive justice on their heads for their dastardly conduct. He 
succeeded in capturing one of Urrea's officers, whose fanati- 
cism no doubt instigated the atrocities, too revolting to de- 
cency and manhood to be described. He was identified as 
the murderer of Burns, and was seen to mangle most horribly 
the dead bodies of the American teamsters. Moved by the 
spirit of a demon, he attempted, and would have murdered 
the grief distracted daughter of the unfortunate Burns, but 
for the interference of a brother officer in the same division. 
After he was taken and bound by thongs around the wrists 
he sprang, seized a pistol which Colonel Cooke had laid 



6S ^ ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. ' 

down, and fired at and wounded him in the knee. En- 
raged for an instant, he drew his sword, but his anger mehed 
away at the sight of the cords which confined his arms, and 
he desisted from his hasty purpose. He was then placed in 
a wagon, with a sick soldier, guarded by a file of men, and 
was thus conveyed until they reached the spot where the mas- 
sacre had taken place. A halt was called until the rites of 
burial could be performed. One of the company who had 
lost a brother in the fight, stole with his rifle, unperceived, 
to the distance of one hundred and fifty yards from the 
wagon, where he secreted himself behind a bush, and waited 
until his comrades left an open space between him and the 
butcherer of his brother, when he fired and drove a ball 
through his bosom. The desperate man, feeling that the 
thread which bound him to life was cut, snatched the gun of 
the sick soldier and made an almost superhuman efi*ort to 
shoot one of the guards, which he came within a hair's 
breadth of accomplishing, and then expired. 



Incident at Buena Vista. 
After the batde I was ordered with sixteen men to escort 
Major Bliss with a flag of truce to Santa Anna. When we 
arrived within about one hundred yards of a regiment of 
lancers, which seemed to be the rear guard, we were halted. 
Major Bliss was blindfolded and conducted to Santa Anna. 
On the departure of the Major, a platoon of lancers was or- 
dered from the regiment, and took post facing my platoon, 
and within ten steps of me. The lieutenant in command 
dismounted his men ; I did the same. He was a fat, good- 
looking fellow ; wore a short sack coat, neatly trimmed with 
lace, and seemed quite pompous. As he dismounted he 
handed the bridle rein to his orderly, and commenced strut- 
ting before his platoon, in a very haughty manner. Presently 



RUM VS. SOLDIER. 69 

• 

he called his orderly, who handed, from a pocket in the side 
of his saddle, a bottle from which he took a drink, without 
saying a word to me, much to my astonishment, and com- 
menced strutting as before. I just then recollected I had in 
my holster a small bottle of whiskey, and that it would not 
do to be outdone by this Mexicano : so I handed my rein to 
the right file of my platoon, and commenced playing the pea- 
cock in front of my men. In a few minutes I halted short, 
and ordered my bugler to hand me the bottle out of the hol- 
ster, and I took a drink, curled my mustache, and continued 
peacocking it. As soon as my Mexican friend saw my imi- 
tating movements he walked faster — I increased my pace — 
he halted and took a drink ; I halted and took a drink. Thus 
we performed for some time, until I actually bluffed him off, 
for he walked to the rear of his platoon — when I halted and 
sat down on the grass. — Letter from an Officer. 



Rum vs. Soldier. 
"Yes, sir, I'm a volunteer. I'm proud to say I'm one of 
'em — one of those patriotic sons that have left the comforts 
of a home, the delights of a fireside, hove down the imple- 
ment of the husbandman, and chucked the tool of the me- 
chanic into the chimney place, buckled on the cartridge box, 
and taken up the musket to go into the heart of an enemy's 
country, and all for the honor of mine. Yes, sir, the flame 
of patriotism was kindled in my breast, and went ofi* in a 
light blaze at the very first shot which was fired on the mortal 
plains of Paler Alter, and it is a consuming me with its ter- 
rible violence." Such were the " neat and appropriate 
remarks," which emanated from the lips of an individual in 
a very war-worn and dirty suit of half-military clothes, after 
the Recorder had addressed him blandly as Mr. Peagrim 
and inquired of him whether he was a soldier. 



70 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

" You are charged here, sir, with being intoxicated last 
night, and of disturbing the peace of the city." 

"Is it possible that such a charge as that has been fetched 
against me?" said Mr. Peagrim. 

" Well, it aint the fust time. My persecutors follers me 
everywhere. 1 was accused of being drunk afore I 'listed, I 
was accused of being drunk when I 'listed, and I was dis- 
charged for being drunk. In Mexico I fought the battles of 
my country, and I poked it into the Mexicans lively. I was 
in four battles, and distinguished myself in every one of 'era. 
At the sound of the first gun I fell back, in good order to the 
rear, to protect the baggage, but unable to appreciate my 
great military skill and courage, they accused me of running 
away, and my captain gave me fits. The physicians said I 
had been cupped too often, and recommended my discharge. 
I came home, sir," — here he became very much affected — 
" but when I landed on the levee, I didn't hear ne'er a can- 
non thunderin' out my welcome. There wasn't no loud 
shouts of the populace when I arrived, except when I fell 
into the water in getting ashore. I didn't see no military 
turned out to escort me through the streets, and I was com- 
pelled to walk alone in the place de armys and go through 
the magnificent arch, that had been built for my reception 
expressly, with all them green things and signs on it. For 
a moment I felt my heart was too full for utterance, but I 
thanked the people, that was about, for the compliment, but 
they only laughed at me and hove stones. With a broken 
heart I went straight off and liquored. — A^. O. Pic, 



Captain Henrie, 
Captain Henrie was with the scouting party of Majors 
Gaines and Borland at the time of its capture by the Mexi- 
cans. It was composed of three companies of the Kentucky 



CAPTAIN HENRIE. 71 

and Arkansas cavalry, and numbered about seventy. At a 
considerable distance from camp, they were surrounded by 
about two thousand horsemen, under General Minon, and 
induced to surrender, on promise of being treated as prisoners 
of war. The whole party were then conducted under a strong 
escort toward the city of Mexico. One officer, however, 
escaped — he was Captain Henrie. 

He was very anxious for a fight, and, with Capt. Cassius 
M. Clay, strongly dissuaded Major Gaines from surrendering. 
He told the men to count their bullets, and if they had one 
for every two Mexicans, it was a fair game and he would go 
it. He also cautioned them to hit the Mexicans below their 
beards, that they might frighten off the others by their groans, 
and to give them as much misery as possible. One of the 
Mexican officers, recognizing him, cried out in Spanish, "I 
shall have the pleasure of your company to the city of Mex- 
ico, Captain Henrie!" "Excuse me, senor, I generally 
choose my own company ;" replied the cool and courtly 
captain. 

It was the second day after their capture, and near the 
town of Salado, famous in Texan history as the place of the 
decimation of the Mier prisoners, that Major Gaines's high- 
spirited mare showing considerable restlessness, the major 
requested Captain Henrie, who is a famous rider of the Jack 
Hays school, to " mount her and take off the wire-edge of 
her spirit." The captain did so, and riding up to Captain 
Clay, carelessly remarked, " Clay, I am going to make a 
break." The Mexican commander, half suspecting his de- 
sign, placed addidonal forces at the head and rear of the 
column of lancers, within which the prisoners were placed, 
and rode himself by the side of Henrie, who would pace up 
and down the line, cracking jokes with the boys, and firing 
up the spirit of the mare by various ingenious manoeuvres. 
At last, Henrie, seeing a favorable opportunity, plunged his 
spurs deep into the sides of the noble blood, and rushing 



72 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

against, and knocking down three or four of the mustangs 
with their lancers, started off in full view of the whole party, 
at a rate of speed equal to the best time that Boston or 
Fashion ever made. After him rushed half a dozen well- 
mounted lancers, who, firing their escopetas at him, started 
off in close pursuit. But it was no race at all — the Kentucky- 
blood was too much for the mustang. The lancers were 
soon distanced, and the last view they got of Henrie, he was 
flying up a steep mountain, waving his white handkerchief, 
and crying out in a voice which echoed afar off through the 
valley. "Adios, sefiores — 'adios, seiiores !" 

The prisoners, forgetting their situation, gave three loud 
cheers as they saw the gallant Henrie leaving his pursuers 
far behind, and safely placed beyond their reach. The sub- 
sequent adventures and sufferings of Henrie are well known. 
After many narrow escapes from the enemy and starvation, 
and after loosing his noble mare, he arrived safely at camp, 
and gave the first authentic intelligence, of the capture of 
Majors Gaines and Borland's party. 



Magnanimity of General Shields. 
On the 19th of August, the army approached the position 
of Contreras, a strongly entrenched camp, defended by twenty 
large cannon. On that day our advanced troops suffered 
much from the constant fire of the enemy's artillery. The 
night closed gloomily. The rain poured down in torrents, 
and the darkness was so great, that many of our troops were 
dispersed over the country, unable to find their camps and 
head-quarters. The suffering and depression which prevail- 
ed throughout the whole army that night cannot be well 
described. Before them, and on the road to the city, Santa 
Anna had, by incredible exertions, fortified a position of 
great natural strength, and collected behind it an immense 



TEXAS RANGERS. 73 

and well-equipped army. And here was our little army, with- 
out quarters, exposed to a merciless storm of cold rain, with 
most inadequate means, and insufficient ammunition, brought 
to a stand by one of the enemy's outposts. But there were 
two men, at least, in our army, who, amid all these discour- 
agements, preserved their confidence and courage unshaken. 
They were Winfield Scott and Persifor F. Smith. The 
latter, with the eye of a true soldier, had surveyed the field, 
and conceived the plan by which he was confident of carry- 
ing that important position. Through his Aid, he commu- 
nicated his plan to Gen. Scott, who was three miles off, and 
who, with a map before him, was engaged in tracing the 
operations which he had determined to be the order of the 
next day. Gen. Scott was struck with Smith's strategy, 
approved it fully, and sent Shields to aid him. That night 
Shields' brigade was under arms, and commenced a night 
march over a strange and horribly rough country, and under 
an unceasing shower of rain. Over the rough pedrega.l, 
through the corn-fields, wading ditches, and ascending and 
descending ravines where the men would have to cling to 
every hanging root or tree to save them from falling. Shields' 
gallant volunteers proceeded to join Smith. When the latter 
saw Shields coming up, he turned pale, and could not conceal 
the mortification and disappointment he felt in being ranked 
just on the eve of the great battle he had so skilfully matured. 
"Make yourself easy. General Smith," remarked the gener- 
ous and magnanimous Shields , as he saluted him, — "You 
missed your chance at Cerro Gordo, but you shall have it 
now. I will assist, but not command you." 



Texan Ranger. 



A small party of Colonel C. F. Smith's police guard of 
the city was fired on by a band of robbers or guerillas occu- 
7 



74 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

pying a house in the suburbs of the city. Not deeming their 
force sufficient to assault the house, they took a position that 
would prevent escape, and sent for a reinforcement. The 
doors were then forced, and all its inmates captured except 
one, who jumped out of a window, mounted a horse and 
dashed off at full speed. As he started off, he drew a pistol 
and fired it off into the crowd — without however, injuring 
any one. There was one of Jack Hay's Rangers standing 
close by, apparently a silent spectator of the whole affair ; 
but as soon as the Mexican fired his pistol, he leisurely drew 
his revolver, remarking, " Ah, ha, my larkey, that's a game 
that two can play at!" and at the crack of the pistol down 
came the Mexican. 

The Texan then mounted his own horse, and after run- 
ning four or five hundred yards, lassoed the horse and re- 
turned with him, saying to the officer present, " Well, Cap- 
tain, as I knocked the centre out of that fellow, I s'pose I'm 
entitled to his pony." The officer replied in the affirmative, 
and the Texan rode off as cool as though it was an every 
day business with him. The Mexicans who were taken in 
the house were sent off to the guardhouse, and tried by a 
military commission. 



" I couldn't help it^ 
General Quitman relates the following incident: "With- 
in a mile of the city of Mexico, where you know we had hard 
fighting, I was standing talking to General Shields as to the 
mode of action. Before us the Mexican cannon were belch- 
ing forth fire and smoke and the musketeers were not idle. 
General Shields left me. I took out my pocket glass to re- 
connoitre, to see where we could make the most efi'ective 
attack, and while I had it to my eye, I heard something fall 
heavily near my feet. I looked down and behold it was one 



APPLYING TO THE HEAD BOSS. 75 

of my men. A ball had struck him in the knee and he was 
bleeding profusely. His wound was tied up with a handker- 
chief, and he was removed about five feet from me. I was 
interested for the man. He was unable to sit even. He had 
twisted himself around, and was feeling for his musket, which 
he finally caught by the bayonet, and drew it to him. Occa- 
sionally I glanced in the direction of the soldier. While I 
had been attending to other matters, he had turned on his side 
and had actually his gun in shooting position. He fired at 
the enemy ! I approached and remarked to him, " My 
good fellow haven't you had enough of fighting yet?' 
He looked at me, and in a tone which seemed to ask forgive- 
ness, replied, "Why, General — I — couldn't help it." 



Applying to the Head Boss, 

" Plaze, sir," said an Irish soldier, touching his hat to his 
captain, "whin will we be paid off, sir? "In a few davs, 
Patrick," replied the ofiicer. " Yis, sir," continued Pat, 
" and whin, sir, will we be after Santy Anny, the black- 
guard?" " That's more than I can tell you, Patrick; its 
rather hard to tell when or where he- will show himself," re- 
plied the officer. " Yis, sir, thank you kindly, sir, we'll be 
paid off* in a few days any ways, however," said Pat, as he 
touched his hat again and retired. In a few days he again 
appeared and opened the conversation with. — "If ye plaze, 
sir, divil the copper have we been paid yet, sir I " "I know 
it, Patrick," was the reply of the ofiicer, " but I can't help 
it ; they are waiting for the paymaster to arrive." " Oh, it's 
the paymaster we're a waiting for, is it ? and what the divil's 
the excuse he has for not bein' here when he is wanted ? 
What's the use of havin' a paymaster, if he isn't on the spot 
whin he's wanted ? " said Pat, beginning to wax indignant 
at having to wait so long for his 'tin.' The circumstance 



76 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

caused him much uneasiness, and after cogitating the matter 
over and over, he was struck with a luminous idea, and an- 
nounced to his comrades that he'd have his money before you 
could say " thread on my coat." One morning immediately 
after breakfast, off posted Pat to General Taylor's camp, and 
approaching his tent, enquired of a soldier standing by, where 
the General's * shanty' was. *' That's his tent," said the 
sentinel, pointing out the general's quarters. "And is that 
the Gineral's tent? " said Pat, taking off his hat and rubbing 
his hand over his hair, which had been cut to that degree of 
shortness peculiar to the natives of Erin's green isle. "And 
Where's the Gineral's old grey boss ?" inquired Pat. " There" 
replied the soldier, indicating the spot, where the old horse 
stood lazily whisking the flies away with his tail. "And is 
that the old boss?" again inquired the sprig of Erin, with 
great awe, " an' where, if you plaze sir, is the old gintleman 
himself? " continued Pat. " There he sits under that aw^n- 
ing," answered the soldier. "What!" exclaimed Pat, in 
almost a whisper, and in a tone amounting to reverence, " an' 
is that the old gintleman?" "Yes," said the soldier walk- 
ing away, " that's General Taylor." After gazing upon the 
* war-worn veteran' in silent admiration for a while, he at 
last mustered sufficient courage to approach him. " I beg 
your pardon Gineral, but you'll plaze to excuse the bit of 
liberty Pm taking in presuming to call on your honor, but if 
you plaze, sir, I come on a little mather of business, bein' as 
I thought maybe you might be afther helpin' us out of a little 
bit of a scrape." " Well," said the General kindly, " what 
is the trouble, and what do you wish? " 

" If you plaze, sir, Pd like to know when the hands will 
be paid off, sir? " 

" When the hands will be paid off? " repeated the General 
a little puzzled. 

" Yis sir, if you plaze to have the goodness. The bands 
have had divil the cint of wages since they've been in the 
country." 



AN AFFECTING SCENE. 77 

Oh, I understand, you're a volunteer, and wish to know 
when you'll be paid off. Well, my good fellow, you must 
apply to your company officers for that information, I have 
nothing to do with it." 

" Beggin' your pardon, sir, I did ax the boss about it, but 
he didn't give me no sort of satisfaction about it, and so I 
told the other hands I would fix it ; and bein' as you're the 
head boss, I thought I'd be comin' over here to see if you 
couldn't give us some satisfaction." 

The * head boss' being unable to relieve the anxiety of 
Pat, the latter retired to the ' other hands,' having the satis- 
faction of saying, that altliough he had failed in the object of 
his mission, he had seen the ' head boss' and his ' shanty' 
and ' the old grey horse' which was '' glory enough for one 
day." 



An Affecting Scene. 
Jesus Pico (brother of Pio Pico, governor of California,) 
was condemned to be shot, for breaking his parole, and 
also for headmg an insurrection. Twelve was the hour 
fixed for execution. At eleven, the wife and children of 
Pico, with a crowd of Ladies rushed into the room of Lieut. 
Col. Fremont, (at that time commandant,) and fell upon 
their knees, beseeching in the most piteous accents to par- 
don the husband and father. The children of Pico clung 
to Col. Fremont's knees and prayed for their father's life. 
The wife, w4th an agonizing look, begged him not to render 
her children fatherless and herself a widow. Shrieks and 
groans were mingled with their supplications. Col. Frement 
was unable to look upon the heart-rending scene, and hid 
his face in his hands ; and the word pardon involuntarily 
escaped from his lips. He was not formed to resist the 
supplications of those in distress, and the warm feelings of 
his nature prompted him to pardon Pico. 
7* 



78 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

The tumult of feelings took a different turn. Joy and 
gratitude broke out, filled the room with benedictions, and 
spread to those without. Blessings were showered upon 
Fremont's head in myriads ; every tongue vieing in thank- 
fulness. To finish the scene, the condemned man was 
brought in ; and then the whole impulsiveness and fire of 
the Spanish character, when excited by some powerful 
emotion, was fully developed. He had been calm, com- 
posed, quiet, and almost silent, under his trial and condem- 
nation ; but, at the word ' pardon,' a storm of impetuous 
feeling burst forth, and, throwing himself at the feet of Col. 
Fremont, he swore to him an eternal fidelity, and demanded 
the privilege of going with him and dying for him ! 

But it was not yet over with Col. Fremont. His own 
men required the death of Pico ; he had done them much 
harm, and, in fact, was the head of the insurrection in that 
district, and had broken his parole. The Colonel went 
among them, and calmed the ferment in his own camp. But 
others, who were not there, have since cried out for the 
execution of Pico, and made his pardon an accusation 
against Col. Fremont. The pacified state of the country 
will answer the accusation, and show that it was a case in 
which policy and humanity went together. 



Santa Anna''s GamccocJts. 
A party of dragoons, while exploring the premises of 
Santa Anna, at Mango de Clavo, came upon the building 
where he kept his gamecocks. (Santa Anna is Well known 
for his propensity to fight cocks, though he is not quite so 
keen to fight ' Los Yankees '.) There was an immense 
deal of cock-fighting in that neighborhood for several days. 
The opportunity of fighting Santa Anna's cocks was too 
rare to be allowed to pass away unhonored ; so the officers 



THE RIFLES. 79 

had rare sport. One particular fight created great excite- 
ment. A fierce looking fellow, which they dubbed ' General 
Taylor,' (not so large as some, but with the game sticking 
out all over him,) was pitted against along, gangling chicken, 
that bore his owner's name — a heavy but clumsy bird, with 
but little fight in him. 

Well, General Taylor and Santa Anna, as represented 
by the cocks of the latter, were set upon one another, and 
after a few heavy hits from the former, the latter ' bambosed' 
out of the fight as fast his two legs would carry him, leaving 
General Taylor's representative upon the ground, crowing 
quite lustily. Cheers, of course, were raised for ' Rough 
and Ready,' both cock and man ; but a dragoon cried out 
"Licked on his own dunghill, by G — d ! " 



The Rifles 
I rejoice in? the glorious laurels which the rifles have won. 
It is, as all acknowledge, the fighting regiment of the army. 
It entered Chapultepec simultaneously with the storming 
party. It was first in all the enemy's works from Chapulte- 
pec to the citadel. It was the first that entered the city, and 
first planted its triumphant banner on the palace of the Monte- 
zumas. Wherever bloody work was to be done, " the rifles" 
was the cry, and there they were. All speak of them in terms 
of admiration. Let me give you but a single instance. Some 
of the officers and men were standing together when General 
Scott happened to ride by. Checking his horse, he returned 
their salute, saying with great energy and emphasis, " Brave 
Rifles ! veterans ! You have been baptized in fire and blood 
and have come out steel! " Had you seen the unbidden 
tears stealing to the eyes of those rough but gallant spirits, 
whose hearts knew no fear, and who had never yet, in their 
long trial, faltered or fallen back, while their flashing eyes 



80 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

and upright forms bespoke its truth, you would have felt with 
me that such words as those wiped out long months of hard- 
ship and suffering. But what told still more the tale of suf- 
fering and death were the deserted ranks and scanty numbers 
of that gallant regiment. Five hundred sturdy men left Jef- 
ferson Barracks for the plains of Mexico — one hundred and 
fifty-nine have met us here, and now one hundred and seventy 
alone are left to tell the tale. The fate of the rest you know 
already. Chapultepec's bloody hill, Mexico's capital, have 
cost us an hundred noble fellows, while seven officers have 
felt that the rifles were doomed. Our gallant major lost his 
arm early in the day. Palmer has a grapeshot in the thigh. 
One of our captains saved his life by half an inch, while the 
rest, whose slighter wounds permit them to be about, attend 
to duty from necessity. — Letter from an officer. 



Capttire of Alvarado, t 

One day Mister Perry wanted to have a chowder of Mexi- 
cano, a la Alvarado, and was going to let all the school go 
down and see him eat it , and he asked Mister Scott to go 
down with his school too ; but Mister Scott had just been 
eating soup a la Ulua, and he did not care a pin for Mexi- 
cano, ct la Alvarado ; so he told Usher Quitman he might 
take some of the boys and go. Then Mister Perry told 
Master Hunter, who had just come to school, to go down and 
watch the Alvarado, and keep anything from getting into it 
till he could come — for Mister Perry could not go fast. 

But Master Hunter was a greedy boy, and had not been 
well brought up, and did not care ; and a saucy boy and had 
no respect for his betters, and his parents should have been 
whipped for not whipping him more — for so soon as he got 
where it was, he ate up all the Alvarado and more too. He 
was very hungry, and had gone a good ways ; but he hadn't 



ELOQUENCE OF ACTIOiV. 81 

orter done so — for when Mister Perry and Usher Quitman 
came, thej could get nothhig to eat, and had to go back, 
feeling worse than any body ever felt before or ever will feel 
again. Then Mister Perry shut Master Charley up, till he 
and the ushers could find out what to do with him ; and one 
usher thought they ought to put a piece of rope round his 
neck and tie him up to the yard-arm. But Mister Perry did 
not dare do that, for little Charley had twenty millions of 
friends who would have done so to him, had he done so to 
Charley — so that all Mister Perry could do was to send him 
away from school ; but he gave a smart man two shilhngs 
and sixpence to write a reprimand on Master Hunter, and 
told all the ushers to read in their divisions. — Yarikee Doodle. 



The Eloquence of Action. 
We rejoice that w^e are able to relate one good thing that 
occurred while Gen. Shields w^as in our place. A good 
honest laboring son of the Green Isle, had been standing 
round waiting for an introduction to his countryman, the 
General. Our committee, however, being men of exalted 
minds, at least about that time, did not see the honest Hib- 
ernian, who was too modest to ask an introduction, but fol- 
lowed the crowd to the railroad depot, where some of our 
citizens had prepared a cannon to give a loud farewell to Gen. 
Shields. On arriving at a point near the door of the car. 
Gen. Shields halted and seemed, for a moment, to be in sol- 
emn thought, as if the roaring cannon reminded him of other 
scenes. Our honest Irish friend during the time, had kept 
near his person as if spell-bound, until about the time the 
general was in the act of taking his final leave. Poor Pat 
could stand it no longer ; he rushed forward to the general, 
caught him by the hand, exclaiming, *' How are you my 
countryman ? I am prouder of you than you are of yonr- 



82 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

self! " Gen. Shields, with a manner that showed his heart 
was in the act, taking off his cap, caught the hand of the 
poor laborer, and gave him such a shake as none but a noble 
heart in an Irishman's breast could give, exclaiming at the 
same time, "How do you do, my worthy countryman? I 
am indeed glad to meet you ! thank you, thank you." Pat 
stepping back, and standing some inches above his usual 
height, exclaimed ; "And failh, you're the boy under whom 
I would like to fight! "—.S. C. Paper. 



Charge of tJie Mississippiaiis at Buena. Vista, 
When a portion of the troops, panic struck, were fleeing 
before the shot of the enenry, at Buena Vista, the Mississip- 
pians were ordered to advance. Scarcely three hundred in 
number, with their rifles without bayonets, they advanced to ^ 
the charge against a superior force, outnumbering them so 
far that they might be regarded almost as a forlorn hope. 
Steadily and unwaveringly they pressed on, loading and 
firing with terrible effect, and utterly regardless of the deadly 
fire of the enemy, which was creating fearful havoc in their 
own ranks. All know the result of that charge, and what 
effect it had upon the enemy. Of this small, noble band, 
no less than ninety odd were stretched upon that bloody field 
in one charge. Such a charge has never been equalled in 
modern warfare. Just before their departure, a drizzly un- 
pleasant'rain set in, in the midst of which the regiment, under 
the command of Capt. Hooper, marched in front of General 
Taylor's tent and presented arms. The General was in his 
tent, but came out and shook hands with Capt. H., and then 
addressed the following remarks to them with much feeling : 
" My friends, I part from you with great reluctance. You 
are about returning to your homes and your families, covered 
with honors scarcely ever equalled. You have won honor 



INCIDENT AT CERRO GORDO. 83 

for yourselves, your state and your country, and I can only 
express a sincere hope for your health and future happiness." 
He then shook hands with the officers, and as the regiment 
filed off, they gave three hearty cheers for the brave old gen- 
eral, under whom they have won such green and unfading 
laurels. 



Ineidcnt at Cerro Gordo. 

I continued attending to the various stages of the amputa- 
tion in the midst of balls and the cry of the enemy, and at 
last finished an operation that seemed to have lasted an age. 
The serenity and resignation of my companions in this crisis 
were admirable, and is above description. All remained 
around the patient, attending to that part of the operation 
which fell to their share, in the midst of the whistling of balls 
and the cries of death ; and when we rose, looking to heaven 
with gratitude for our salvation, as we thought, a new peril 
came to dismay us. A number of volunteers presented them- 
selves in front of our entry, and seeing our uniform, cried — 
" Death to the Mexican officers," and presented their guns 
to our breasts. I do not know what sentiment inspired me 
in the resolution which T took, but I rushed to the muzzles 
of their rifles — and showed them my hand, dripping with 
blood, and holding a piece of the mutilated leg, cried — '* Res- 
pect humanity or a hospital of blood — we are surgeons." 
My words produced a magic offect. In an instant, an officer 
whose name I have since learned to be Pion, stepped between 
the volunteers and ourselves, raised their guns with his sword, 
and these men, animated by victory, thirsting to avenge the 
loss of their general, (General Shields,) mortally wounded, 
as I have since learned, became from that moment our friends, 
our protectors. — Letter of a Mexican Siirgeoiu 



84 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Alexander Kimze, 
In the same part of the field, and about the same time with 
Clay, McKee and Hardin, another fell, pierced by a lance, 
whose name is worthy of a place on the rolls of fame — Pri- 
vate Alexander Kunze of Company H, 2d Regiment of Illi- 
nois. The writer was honored with his friendship, and had 
an opportunity of knowing him well, being a member of the 
same company and his tent mate. His conduct on the field 
was most soldierly, cool, calm, deliberate and prompt in obey- 
ing orders. His courage was conspicuous, even in the mo- 
ment of his death, when he refused to surrender. Except a 
brother in South America, he left no relatives on this conti- 
nent. His widowed mother lives in Bueckeburg, in Hano- 
ver, near his native city, Hamburg. He recived a splendid 
education at the universities of Jena and Goettingen. He 
had been but a year in the United States^ when lie joined our 
regiment at Alton, whither he had come to volunteer from 
Wisconsin. His motives in taking this step, were, that he 
might serve the country, whose constitution he respected be- 
fore all other systems of government, and to gratify his curi- 
osity in a new mode of life, by seeing Mexico and observing, 
as he did, with a philosophic eye, the character of her people 
and institutions. The writer promised himself much pleasure 
in travelling with him through this country. He was twenty 
seven years of age, and probably the most learned man in 
the army. His knowledge of philology was accurate and 
profound. Such was his familiarity with the Latin, that by 
one day's examination of a Spanish grammar, he was able to 
read the cognate language with facility. JNIany pleasant hours 
have we spent together in rambling over the mountains and 
plains of Mexico, while he filled his haversack with new plants 
to send to Germany, and which his knowledge of botany 
often enabled him to class in the several genera and species. 
A better and a braver heart than his never beat its last upon 
a field of battle. — Letter from a Private. 



EXECUTION OF DESERTERS. 85 

Execution of Deserters, 

On the morning of the 9th September, was hung at San 
Angel, sixteen deserters from the American army, who had 
taken up arms against their government.* Immediately 
after some ten or twelve were whipped, and branded on the 
cheek with the letter D. Riley, the chief of the San 
Patricio crowd, came in for a share of the whipping and 
branding ; and right well was the former laid on by a Mexi- 
can muleteer, Gen. Twiggs deeming it too much honor to 
the major to be flo<rged by an American soldier. He did 
not bear the operation with that stoicism expected. 

The next morning four others of the same company were 
executed at Mixcoaca, and on the ISth thirty more were 
hung upon one gallows at the same place. The thirty were 
brought out for execution about the same time that Chapul- 
tepec was being stormed ; and Col. Harney, ])ointing to 
that place, told them that they should live long enough to 
see the American flag hoisted upon the battlements of that 
fortress, and no longer. In a few moments our colors were 
raised, and after it was shown to them they were launched 
into eternity. 

The clergy at San Angel plead hard to save the lives of 
these men, but it was in vain. Gen. Twiggs told them 
that to Ampudia, Arista and Santa Anna did these men owe 
their deaths ; for they had stooped to the low business of 
solicitating desertion from our ranks, and had succeeded in 
seducing from duty and allegiance the poor wretches who 
had to pay so dearly for their crimes. 

According to our military laws, Riley could not be hung, 
he having deserted from the army before the commencement 
of hostilities, but all that could be awarded him was well 
administered. 

* These furrmd a part of the "Legion of St. Patrick," which was composed 
of deserters from the American army, chiefly Irish, having heen tempted by 
the bribes held out by Santa Anna to fight against their country. 

8 



86 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Apiiearance of Gen. Taylor, 
Winding down a hill, our column was halted to let a 
troop of horse pass. Do you see at their head a plain look- 
ing gentlemen, mounted upon a brown horse, having upon 
his head a Mexican sombrero, dressed in a brown olive 
colored loose frock coat, grey pants, wool socks, and shoes? 
From under the frock appears the scabbard of a sword ; he 
has the eye of an eagle, and every lineament of his counte- 
nance is expressive of honesty, and a calm, determined 
mind. Reader, do you know who this plain looking gentle- 
man is ? No ? It is Major General Zachary Taylor, who 
with his military family, and a squadron of dragoons as an 
escort, is on his way to Victoria. He never has around him 
any of the ' pomp and circumstance of glorious war,' but 
when victory hangs upon a thread, when even the bravest 
dread the galling fire, you will find foremost among them all 
that brave and gallant general, whose presence alone ensures 
a victory. — Letter from an officer. 



Boh Walker. 

While crossing the plains to Santa Fe, General Kearny 
was some distance ahead with the advance guard. One of 
the officers belonging to the rear division singled Bob out 
and sent him ahead with a letter to the general. When he 
came up with them he found them encamped, and Bob 
sauntered up to the general's marque. 

" We're gettin' along right sharp, general," said he. 

''Yes, Sir! '' answered the commander. 

" I wish you'd jest look at that horse of mine, general," 
said Bob, " and give me your 'pinion how he'll stand the 
racket clar through to whar we're goin'." 

" Have you a captain at the head of your company ? " 
inquired the general. 



A NOBLE RECRUIT. 87 

'• Well, we hev, boss, and he's some punkins, too," an- 
swered Bob. 

" Whenever you wish to learn anything in regard to your 
movements," said the general, " inquire of him." 

" That's military, is it? " inquired Bob. 

" That's military, Sir," answered the general. 

" Well, general, they gin me a letter for you, but cuss 
me, if I know whether I oughter gin it you in pusson or 
send it through your orderly, and so I'll go back and ask 
the captain ! " 

And back he went, sure enough, with the letter in his 
possession, to the great annoyance of General Kearny. 



A noble Reci'uit. 
In 1S46, the Baron Van Winckle, a captain of artillery 
in the service of the king of Saxony, arrived in this country, 
in the ship Barens, Capt. Flores, from Hamburg; he was 
an accomplished officer and gentleman. At the time of the 
Ronge riots in Leipsic, he was in command of the citadel, 
and was instructed to summon the Rongites to disperse, and 
if they declined doing so, he was ordered to fire upon them. 
They refused to abide by his summons, when he fired, and 
some two hundred defenceless people were killed. For this 
act of obedience he was censured by many people, and by 
some of his associate officers was insulted. For these in- 
sults he sought redress : challenged several of his compan- 
ions in arms to mortal combat, and killed two of them. 
Finding himself in an unfavorable position, and acting in 
accordance with the advice of the Minister of War, he took 
shipping for the United States, and with the intention of 
remaining here till the excitement at Leipsic growing out of 
the Ronge riots should subside. He arrived here in March, 
was unhappy and discontented, because of the absence of 



88 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

rictive life, and had resolved to migrate to the copper mines 
of Lake Superior. While waiting, the war with Mexico 
broke out. He immediately proceeded to a rendezvous, 
enlisted in the army as a private, was despatched forthwith 
to Texas, and at the battle of Palo Alto was the first man 
killed in the gallant charge made on the enemy. He had 
many influential friends in the Eastern cities, but he sought 
no other station in our army than that of a private soldier. 



How they died in Battle. 

The following incidents were related by General Pierce, 
at a reception dinner given him by the citizens of Concord, 
New Hampshire, upon his return from the Seat of War : — 
There was Sergeant Stowell, who was shot through the 
heart at Churubusco. As his last breath flowed, he whis- 
pered to me, " Do the boys say I behaved well ? If they 
do, write home to my people." 

Then, there was Sergeant Pike, who had his leg shot off 
while advancing alone on a causeway swept by three batteries. 
Two amputations, which did not answer the purpose, were 
performed, and a third was deemed hopeless. Die he must, 
it was thought. " I know better than they do," said he, 
"I'll try another, and when they cut it again I hope they will 
cut it so that it will stay cut." A third amputation was 
performed, and he lived through it. He, with several 
others in the same regiment, were printers. In the new 
levies the printers exceed by twenty per cent, those of any 
other vocation ; and, on account of their intelligence and 
high spirit, have proved the most efficient soldiers in the field. 

Another cause of the success of our troops, new and old, 
was the conduct of our officers ; who, from the highest to 
the lowest, led and cheered on their columns. Hence the 
disproportion in the loss of officers and men. Hence the loss 



THE LATE LEVI GANTT. 80 

of that brave and accomplished officer, Col. Ransom. He 
kept pressing up, pressing up, till he was shot dead at the 
head of his column. The same was true of Col. Martin 
Scott, the best marksman in the army — a son of New Hamp- 
shire. He raised himself above the protection of a wall — 
a brother officer begged him not to expose himself unneces- 
sarily, — he replied, " Martin Scott has never yet stooped." 
The next moment a shot passed through his heart. He fell 
upon his back, deliberately placed his cap upon his breast, 
and died. Col. Graham, after receiving six severe wounds, 
continued at the head of his men, and upon receiving a 
seventh, slowly dropped from his horse, and as he fell upon 
the ground, said, " Forward, my men ! My word is always 
Forward ! " And so saying he died. 



The late Levi Gantt, 
Among those who have cause to mourn over the losses of 
our army in Mexico are the relations and friends of the late 
Lieut. Levi Gantt, who was killed in the attack of the castle 
of Chapultepec. This young officer, a graduate of West 
Point, took part in every battle fought during the present 
war by Generals Scott and Taylor, excepting that of Buena 
Vista, and in each won the approbation of his superiors, and 
the admiration of his equals in rank, by his gallantry and 
daring. At Monterey he volunteered, with thirty men to 
make a diversion on the side of one of the fortified hills, near 
the Bishop's Palace, opposite to that on which the real at- 
tack was to be made. So great was his thirst for distinction 
that nothing but the positive orders of his commanding offi- 
cer prevented him from converting the feigned into a real 
attack. While clambering up the steep ascent a cannon ball 
fired at his party came within a foot of his head, and covered 
his face with sand and gravel. He was among the first to 



90 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

enter the Mexican fortifications on the summit of Cerro Gor- 
do. It is believed that the only officer in advance of him 
was his cousin, Lieut. Thomas Evvell of the Rifle regiment, 
who died on the field the next day from the effects of a 
wound. For his bravery in this action Lieut. Gantt, was 
recommended to be brevetted. The storming party at Cha- 
pultepec was made up of volunteers from the different corps 
and regiments of the army. Lieut. Gantt was a volunteer 
from his own gallant regiment, the 7th Infantry. In march- 
ing to the attack, and while under shelter from the enemy's 
fire, Lieutenant Gantt stepped out to discover whether an ap- 
proaching party were friends or foes, when he was struck in 
the middle of his breast by a musket ball, and expired in a 
few minutes. He was buried the next day in the church 
yard at Tacubaya. He died a brave soldier and an upright 
man. 



''Crowd 'em:' 

The following good story is told of Bob Walker, one of 
Doniphan's battalion, the advanced guard that opened com- 
munication with Gen. Wool's column at Buena Vista. Gen. 
Wool, among other things, remarked to Bob that that was 
quite a brisk Httle skirmish they had at Sacramento. "Yes," 
said Bob, "but we didn't lose any of our cannon, if it was 
3i skirmish ! "" "That's right, my man," said Gen. Wool, 
seeing that the Missourian was a little huffed, " that's right, 
never allow any one to underrate your victory — you fought 
against great odds, and a greater disadvantage, than the 
enemy have been met during the war, and more successfully, 
too." 

Bob, emboldened by this flattering speech, remarked with 
much sang froid, " I don't think you fight 'em right down 
here, no how. General." "Why not?" said Wool, smiling, 



INHUMAN MASSACRE. 91 

** how do you fight them ?" "Why, d — n it all, you doriH 
crowd ^em enough^''^ — said Bob — " By G — d, we've tried 
'em two or three times now, and we've always found it best 
to crowd 'e?w from the jump ! " 



Inlmman Massacre. 

Occasional murders of our men have been perpetrated 
ever since we have been in the country — all killed by the 
lasso. The Arkansas regiment of horse, from their having 
been employed as scouts and occupying the outposts, have 
been particularly exposed to this guerrilla warfare, and have 
lost four or five of their men. The day before yesterday 
it was reported that one of their number had been killed by 
the Mexicans, as he had been missing from the camp since 
the day before, when he went out to look for his horse. 
Search was made for the body, and it was found about a 
mile from our camp, with a lasso around the neck, tied to a 
prickly pear, having been draged some three hundred yards 
upon the face through the chaparral. It presented a horrible 
sight ! The name of the young man was Colquitt, a nephew 
of the senator. 

The Arkansas men vowed vengeance deep and sure. 
Yesterday morning, a number of them, some thirty perhaps, 
went out to the foot of the mountain, two miles off, to an 
arroyo which is washed in the sides of the mountain, to 
which the * pisanos ' of Agua Nueva had fled upon our ap- 
proach, and soon commenced an indiscriminate and bloody 
massacre of the poor creatures who had just fled to the 
mountains and fastness for security. A number of our reg- 
iment being out of camp, I proposed to Colonel Bissell to 
mount our horses and proceed to the scene of carnage, where 
I knew, from the dark insinuations of the night before, that 
blood was running freely. We hastened out as rapidly as 



92 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

possible, but owing to the thick chaparrals the work of death 
was over before we reached the horrible scene, and its per- 
petrators were returning to camp glutted with revenge. 

God knows how many of the unarmed peasantry have 
been sacrificed to atone for the death of poor Colquitt. 
The Arkansas regiment say not less than thirty have been 
killed. I think, however that twenty of them have been 
sent to their eternal rest. — Letter from an officer. 



Licident related by Gen, Shields. 
I will state one thing that was very singular at the battle of 
Buena Vista, though I was not there. It has been stated by 
the best military men that no man but General Tavlor would 
have fought after his flank and rear had been turned, for, ac- 
cording to the best military writers, he had then only to re- 
treat or to surrender. But he disregarded science, and fought 
and defeated them. At the battle of Churubusco, I happened 
to be placed in very nearly a similar position. On my front 
was a line three times the length of my own ; there was a 
line on each flank, and the Mexican cavalry in my rear. 
Books and military science lay down rules for extricating 
troops in difliculties ; but I never thought of extricating my- 
self in any other way than by breaking through their centre. 
And on that occasion, after seeing myself surrounded by 
what I said in my report was three or four times, but which 
I afterwards found was ten times greater than my command, I 
determined to break through their centre. I rode along the 
column, and I stated that the only way to extricate ourselves 
was to break their centre, and that I should lead the charge 
myself, and I called on the whole command to follow me. 
A Colonel in that command, now no more, (Colonel Butler,) 
stepped in front of his regiment, raised his cap, and said, 
*' General Shields, every South Carolinian will follow you 



CAPTAIN BURG WIN. 93 

to death." The cry was responded to by every Carolinian ; 
the New Yorkers responded to that cry ; the residue of my 
command followed ; I wheeled them into Une, rushed on the 
enemy, and routed and broke them." 



Captain Burgwin. 
Captain Burgwin, of the Dragoons, who fell at Taos, was 
a native of North Carolina ; he graduated at West Point in, 
1830, and at the time of his death was high upon the list of 
Captains. He was one of the most popular officers in the 
army, from his high toned gentlemanly character. His con- 
duct and courage in the late battles are the theme of univer- 
sal praise. After being wounded, Col. Price rode up to 
him, and told him that whether he recovered or not he 
would bear testimony to his gallantry. Captain B. replied 
" I hope. Colonel, that you will also bear witness that my 
company did its duty." 



Horrors of War. 
The bombardment (Vera Cruz,) was perfectly terrific for 
three days and night. Such a sight I hope never to see 
again. It was sublime and awful ! When our shells fell 
you could hear the crash two miles off. Day before yester- 
day, having nothing to do in the trenches, I went up on the 
sandhills in front of our camp. Our battery of six 24- 
pounders, a navy battery of six 32-pounders, and fourteen 
10-inch mortars, were in full operation, while the enemy 
were returning the fire with nearly an equal number. The 
day was magnificent — the sky perfectly clear, the air fresh 
and balmy. Before me lay the beautiful but doomed city. 
The firing was incessant — the blaze one continuous sheet of 



94 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

flame, as if two volcanoes were belching forth red-hot lava 
at each other, while the smoke gathered into a funeral pall 
over the devoted town. 

I looked on for some time, but the sight made me sick, 
and I returned to my tent. The reflection came over me, 
" What a horrid trade is war ! — what a dreadful spectacle 
to see man thus marring the work of God, and turning into 
a pandemonium that which seemed a few moments before as 
lovely as a paradise ! " When shells and rockets were 
jDursting around me, I had no such feelings, for I was then 
in hot blood ; but looking cooly on, and out of the way of 
danger, it semmed to me truly awful ! — Letter from an officer. 

I went over the batde-field (Buena Vista,) after the fight, 
and of all the shocking and most horrible sights I ever wit- 
nessed this exceeded. Hundreds of dead, wounded and 
dying — some with their heads, arms, and legs off", and some 
torn literally to pieces by shell and shot. I never wish to 
witness such a horrid and awful spectacle again. You 
could see the mark of a cannon ball through a regiment, 
leaving a column of dead showing the trace of the shot. 
— Letter from an officer. ^ 



Not too good to he looked at. 

A few days since, one of the cleverest members of the 
medical staff was in conversation with a friend in the Grand 
Plaza, when he was interrupted by the approach of one of 
the newly arrived volunteers, who stopped short and 
looked him straight in the face, apparently as though (and 
this was probably the case) he thought he recognized him. 
As the man continued his fixed stare, without speaking, the 
doctor turned to him and asked — 

'* Do you want any thing ?" 



LIEUT. COL. GRAHAM. 95 

The man looked steadily for a moment, and answered, 
"No." 

The doctor contmued the conversation with his friend, but 
in a little time noticed that the man had passed round him, 
and was taking another look — probably still unsatisfied as to 
whether he knew him or not. 

"Do you want any thing?" inquired he again with em- 
phasis. 

"No," was the response of the imperturbable volunteer. 

" Well, do you know me?" 

"No." 

" Well, why the devil don't you pass on ?" 

The volunteer without relinquishing his stare, answered, 
after a moment — 

" Why, you aint too good to be looked at, are ye?" and 
sauntered on without moving a muscle of his face. 



Lieut. Col. Graham. 
Among the officers who it appears were lost to their coun- 
try in the assault upon the city of Mexico, was the gallant 
Lieut. Colonel William Montrose Graham, of the 11th reg- 
iment U. S. Infantry. Colonel Graham was about 47 years 
of age, and was a brave soldier. He entered at the West 
Point military academy in 1813, and graduated in 1817, as 
3d Lieutenant of Artillery. Another brother, James D. 
Graham, of the Topographical Engineers, one of the most 
scientific, accomplished and valuable officers in the service, 
entered and graduated the same year. They were the sons 
of Dr. VVm. Graham, of Prince William county, Virginia, 
who served, as did others of the family, with distinction, as 
officers in the revolutionary struggle. Colonel Graham, 
whose fall we are now noticing, was, soon after he graduated 
at West Point, selected by his commander General Jackson, 



96 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

to perform some arduous and responsible duties, among the 
southwestern Indians, which he did so satisfactorily, that he 
was highly corapHmented by the General. Having been 
transferred to the 4th regiment of Infantry, under Colonel 
Clinch, which was in Florida, he joined it, and was placed 
in command of Fort King, for a long time in the very heart 
of the troublesome Miccosakies. The writer of this notice 
knew him well during that period, and can bear full testimony 
to his possession of all the qualities that ennoble a gentleman 
and a soldier. He was in Florida, in 1S35, when the Sem- 
inole war broke out, and bore the brunt of the first batde, 
at the Withlacoochee, where his galtant and final charge 
upon the Indians with the bayonet, dispersed the savages, 
and aided greatly in securing the victory. Governor Clinch, 
in his official report, spoke in the highest terms of the con- 
duct of Colonel, then Captain Graham. He fell in that 
charge with two severe wounds from the Indian rifles, (one 
received early in the fight,) and his brother, Lieutenant 
Campbell Graham, of the artillery, (now Cap. of Top. Engs.) 
also received at the same time two severe wounds, at first 
believed to be mortal, but from which he recovered after a 
long time. Throughout the whole of the Florida war 'the 
Grahams' were distinguished for their intrepidity and sol- 
dierly conduct. Col. G. was in every battle on the Penin- 
sula of much note, aud at Okechubee he gallantly led one 
wing of his regiment, and was complimented in the des- 
patches of his Colonel. His brodier, Brevet Major Law- 
rence Pike Graham, of the 2d dragoons, also served in 
Florida with great credit, as a young lieutenant in Twiggs' 
regiment, and was severely wounded in 1840, while scout- 
ing in the night, being fired upon by a party of militia by mis- 
take. He is the same officer who was brevetted by the Pre- 
sident and Senate a major for the gallant charge at Resaca 
de la Palma, with May, Inge, and others of the dragoons. 
Lieutenant Colonel Graham was distinguished at Palo Alto 



ANECDOTE OF GEN. TAYLOR. 97 

and Resaca de la Palma, where he was with the 4th regiment 
of infantry, to which he then belonged. At Monterey he 
was selected by General Taylor to lead his regiment to the 
assault, and it was for his daring and chivalrous gallantry on 
those occasions, and especially that so signally displayed at 
Monterey, that he was selected as Lieutenant Colonel of the 
11th, one of the new regiments, by the President and Sen- 
ate. He was not at Buena Vista, having been ordered to 
join General Scott ; but at Vera Cruz, Crrro Gordo, Con- 
treras and Churubusco, he bore a prominent part «n the 
conflicts, and won his share of the glory of those brilliant 
achievements. And he fell as became a brave American 
soldier. — Eastern paper. 



Anecdote of Gen. Taylor. 

A great many anecdotes have been related of General 
Taylor's remarkable coolness and sagacity on the field of 
battle ; but the lollowing is more than twenty-four hours in 
advance of its cotemporaries. — The general is in the habit of 
riding with very short stirrups. Well, in the heat of the bat- 
tle at Fuena Vista, the old veteran saw a cannon ball making 
toward him, from one of the Mexican batteries, with terrific 
speed, iiough aud Ready eyed it for a moment with great 
interest, during which time he ascertained, with mathematical 
precision, the exact spot it would hit him if he remained 
still. But at the same time he satisfied himself that with a 
little finesse, he could avoid the danger. So, waiting with 
great patience until the ball was about to strike him, he del- 
iberately raised himself in his stirrups, and the ball passed 
between him and his saddle, leaving him quite unharmed ! 
This the Doctor saw with his own eyes, and therefore there 
can be no doubt of its truth. 



98 ANECDOTES ATJD INCIDENTS. 

* Lieut, Burhank. 

This young- and gallant officer belonged to the 8th regiment 
of infantry, " Worth's Own," and was engaged with his 
comrades in tne desperate attack upon the Molino del Rey. 
Precisely how he was wounded, we are not yet advised ; but 
it appears certain that he survived his mortal injuries until the 
subsequent day. Lieut. Burbank was a graduate from West 
Point, and entered the army immediately after his probation 
at that institution was at an end. He was stationed for some 
time in Florida, and accompanied his brave associates when 
they w^ere ordered to Corpus Christi. At the fiercely con- 
tested battle of La Palma, Lieut. Burbank was wounded in 
the right arm, so as to be effectually disabled. In conse- 
quence of this casuality he received a furlough, and was 
assigned to to the recruiting service. His friends were priv- 
ileged to meet him then for the last time. For, in the urgent 
necessity for reenforcements to save the army of Gen. Scott 
from repulse, officers and recruits were hastily summoned 
from their respective rendezvous, and despatched to Vera 
Cruz. And so, after passing through the early perils and 
hardships of the war, he has fallen in full view of that gor- 
geous capital, which he was not destined to enter. He was 
one of the many who poured out their Hfe-blood upon that 
congenial plain, yet, among them all, was none whose fame 
will be more carefully cherished by the admirers of brave and 
chivalrous demeanor. 



Anecdote of General Smith. 
At a dinner given to Generals Shields and Quitman the 
latter related the following anecdote of General P. F. Smhh. 
" After the final charge on the garita, beheving it to be my 
duty to be in the advance on that occasion, for the purpose 
of determining on future movements, I heard a very mild 



GENERAL QUITMAN. 99 

voice addressing me. I looked, and amongst the many gal- 
lant soldiers there assembled, I saw the person of General 
Smith, his mild but noble face exhibiting great composure, 
in contrast with the scene through which he had passed. He 
stood with his watch in his hand and said — ' General, there 
have been many disputes about time before, let it be re- 
membered that we enter the garita at twenty minutes past 
one!" 



General Quitman. 

It is right to give publicity to an incident in the storming of 
the city of Mexiro, which illustrates the bravery and patriotic 
enthusiasm of this offi,cer, but which his modesty had sup- 
pressed from the knowledge of the country. The following 
is an extract from the gallant leader of the mounted rifle regi- 
ment, (Major Loring) who fell at the head of his regiment On 
the eve of entering the city of Mexico, by a wound which 
deprived him of one of his arms. The extract is an eloquent 
tribute from a gallant soldier to the bravery of his distinguished 
commander. The letter was addressed to a friend in private, 
correspondence : 

" General Quitman was at the head of my regiment at the 
time I was shot. We were the nearest American soldiers, to 
the city of Mexico and their army at the time I was wounded. 
After I fell, he armed himself with one of my rifles, joined 
the rifles in their attack upon the Garita de Belen, fired his 
last cartridge, then tied his handkerchief to its muzzle, and 
waved his gallant soldiers over the breastwork — being the 
first to mount amid the terrible carnage that followed. I'll 
venture to say there are few instances in history where one 
so high in rank, and advanced in life, has thus had, and 
availed himself of the brilliant opportunity of wreathing 
around his brow so distinct a title to the honor of being re- 
garded as the ' bravest of the brave.' " 



100 * ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Characteristic, 
The following anecdote of Gen. Taylor, is related by one 
who was present. It is characteristic of" Rough and Ready." 
When Gen. Taylor arrived at the Brasos, there was but one 
boat ready to start for New Orleans. Gen. Taylor inquired 
if he could get a passage for himself and suite. He was an- 
swered that there was room plenty for all who desired to go 
over in her ; but that as it was an old boat, there was some 
danger of her blowing up ; and that he, General Taylor had 
better delay for a day or two for a better and a surer boat. 
To this the old white horse of Palo Alto replied : " Let 
her blow up ! Put my baggage on board ! and let her blow 
up, if she wants to !" 



JaratUa, the Gtierilla. 

Father Jarauta, the famous Guerilla chief, whose frequent 
depredations upon American trains passing between Vera 
Cruz and the capital, has raised him to an unenviable noto- 
riety, barely escaped being captured by Colonel Hays, at 
Teothuacan. some twelve leagues to the northeast of the city 
of Mexico, on the 12th of January, last 

Colonel Hays with about one hundred Rangers and a kw 
of the Illinois volunteers, reached that place in pursuit of the 
padre. Whilst his men were reposing themselves at a haci- 
enda, their horses all unbridled and unsaddled, Jarauta came 
suddenly upon them with a party of Mexicans. A sharp and 
severe contest for some minutes ensued. About one hundred 
and fifty shots were fired by the rangers, and a hundred by 
the Mexicans — the balls of the latter all going over and not 
taking effect. Eight Mexicans were killed, and not an Am- 
erican was killed or wounded. Father Jarauta fled on his 
horse, having received several wounds. When last seen he 
was reeling in his saddle, and m a few moments afterwards 



EXECUTION OF MEXICAN OFFICERS. 101 

his horse came back, saddled and bridled and the blood 
running down his side. A lieutenant was taken prisoner, 
who states that the padre was severely wounded. It was a 
very narrow escape for him, and, if living, we think he can- 
not hold out much longer. In the present instance had not 
the Rangers been " caught napping," their horses without 
bridles or saddles, very few of the Mexicans would have 
escaped to tell the story. 



Execulio7i of Mexican Oficers. 

Lieut. Alcalde and Adj't. Garcia, had violated their parole 
of honor : having been taken prisoners by the American army 
and released on parole, when they were again captured, with 
arms in their hands, in the lines of the enemy. A court mar- 
tial was convened, and, according to all rules of civilised 
warfare, they were condemned. The 2 '4th of November was 
set as the day of execution. 

The sympathy awakened among all parties for the unfor- 
tunate prisoners, who were the victims oi a perverted custom, 
rather than a natural criminality, was so great, that for several 
days before the execution, the Governor of Jalapa, Col. 
Hughes, was besieged by petitions for a mitigation of their 
punishment. Women and men thronged to the Governor's 
quarters, and blended tears with their supplications for the 
condemned. But the Governor must see that the rules of 
the service were effectually carried out, and therefore refused. 
How strange that people professing to be free, should so far 
demean themselves as to plead for those who have basely 
forfeited the highest pledges of honor ! Yet, in Mexico, it 
is considered no disgrace to violate a parole of #onor ; and 
this was urged in defence of their supplications for the pris- 
oners. 

9* 



102 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

At twelve o'clock M. the escort moved to the plaza, (se- 
lected as the place of execution,) in solemn order. The 
prisoners marched blind-folded to the plaza, accompanied by 
a priest, and a friend holding them by an arm. They were 
in the full uniforms of their respective ranks. They were 
led to the side of the plaza near the barracks, and seated on 
their coffins. After continuing their devotions aloud for some 
time, they embraced a (ew friends, when the word "fire ! '* 
was pronounced ; — they fell back, scarcely moving a muscle. 
The bodies were handed over to their friends, and were 
honored with an appropriate burial. 



A Brilliant Exploit, 

It appears that a Mexican, named Luis Salazar, had been 
suspected of conveying an express from Chihuahua to Santa 
Fe, for the Mexican authorities, and it was deemed necessary 
to arrest him. His residence was ascertained to be at San 
Migual, fifty-five miles northeast of Santa Fe. Sergeant 
Cable was charged with this delicate and dangerous mission, 
which he executed with admirable presence of mind, travers- 
ing one hundred and twenty-six miles, as he says, of hostile 
country, with only two military companions and a Mexican 
guide. The man was arrested at his father's residence, in 
the midst of a large population, who appeared to be so sub- 
dued by the daring of the young American Sergeant, as not 
to offer the least molestation to him in going or coming. 
Sergeant Cable was handsomely complimented in orders by 
Col. Easton, on his arrival at Santa Fe. The father of the 
man thus addressed is the identical captain of the Mexican 
escort that conducted the Texan prisoners from Santa Fe to 
Mexico, some years ago, among whom was our friend and 
cotemporary, Mr. G. W. Kendall. — Southern pajyer. 



CAPTAIN ROBERTS. 103 

Capt. Roberts. 

In the closing operations before the city of Mexico, the 
name of this officer has been prominently placed before the 
public. He was selected by Gen. Smith to command the 
storming party from his brigade, and led 125 picked men 
and officers in the assault upon the strongest position of Cha- 
pultepec. His services in this desperate assault were so dis- 
tinguished, that Gen. Quitman in his report says, he "selected 
Capt. Roberts, who had greatly distinguished himself in lea- 
ding the advanced storming party at Chapultepec, to plant 
the slar-spangled banner of our country on the National 
Palace." This compliment was not an unmeaning one, and 
was richly earned by Capt. Roberts. The honor of planting 
the first flag of our country on the national palace of Mexico, 
and of having been the first American officer to enter the halls 
of the Montezumas, will be a passport for life, to the hearts 
and gratitude of his countrymen. 

Although this officer has been prominent in every battle 
fought by his regiment, and selected by Gen. Smith for every 
position where skill and courage were most demanded, he 
has thus far escaped without a wound. At Cerro Gordo 
more than half his company were killed or wounded. At 
Contreras he led the advanced guard and commenced that 
glorious action. At Churubusco he also escaped, and al- 
though 66 of the 125 of his storming at Chapultepec, were 
killed or wounded, he was untouched. Besides his hair- 
breadth escapes where his regiment has been engaged, his 
good fortune has favored him in several of the most success- 
ful and daring attacks on the guerillas. At Puerto del 
Media, near Vera Cruz, he was specially noticed by Gen. 
Smith for his skill and gallantry. At San Juan de los Ilan- 
nos, he commanded the main storming party, and was spec- 
ially commended by Capt. Rufl^, who commanded the expe- 
dition. He attacked the guerillas, Rea and Torrejon, at 
Tclascala, and recaptured a train valued at $50,000, they 



104 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

had stolen from Mexican merchants. This attack was one 
of the most successful and daring of the war. Capt. R. had 
but 120 men, and charged the town, held by 600 lancers and 
guerillas, captured the train and a large uumber of horses 
and mules, before the arrival of a large infantry force, under 
Gen. Lane, had come up. The General in his report com- 
mended Capt. R. in the highest terms. 



Capture of Gen. Valencia. 

Col. F. M. Wynkoop, of the first Pennsylvania volunteers, 
having learned by a Mexican friend that Padre Jarauta, and 
Gen. Rea were at Tlalnepanatla, about five leagues from 
Mexico, applied to Gen. Scott for permission to take twenty 
men and capture them. Permission being granted, the Col. 
set off on the first, with thirty-eight Texan Rangers, under 
command of Lieuts. Daggart, Burkes, and Jones. Upon 
arriving at and charging Tlalnepanatla, and finding no one 
there, they learned that Rea and Jaruata had left for Toluca 
a few hours previous, to their arrival. Col. Wynkoop here 
learned that Gen. Valencia and his staff were at a hacienda, 
some six leagues distant. He immediately set off with his 
party, and arrived at the hacienda, which they surrounded. 
Admittance into the house was demanded by the gallant 
little party, but it was for a time refused, when Col. Silea, a 
wounded Mexican officer on parole, opened the door and 
assured Col. Wynkoop that Gen. Valencia had departed that 
day for Toluca ; but this was not credited, and lights were 
demanded to search the building. Col. Silea then proposed 
to deliver Gen. Valencia the next day, if the party would re- 
tire. To this the Colonel would not assent, and proposed to 
send an officer and eight men, with him, to await their return. 
This proposition completely nonplussed Col. Silea, and con- 
vinced Col. W. that Valencia was really in the house. Search 



A PALMETTO SOLDIER. 105 

was accordingly made, but nothing could be found of him. 
Col. W. declared he would not leave the hacienda without 
him, and that if Valencia would give himself up, he would be 
perfectly safe, but if he attempted to escape, he would not 
answer for his life. At this moment a person stepped up, 
and said, " I am Valencia." He then said that it was 
against the usages of civilised warfare to attack a man in the 
peace and quiet of his family, at the dead hour of the night. 
The Col. answered that " It was the only way he could he 
captured.'''' Col Arreta was also captured in the same haci- 
enda on that night. 

Gen. Valencia and Col. Arreta were afterwards released 
on their parole. 



A Palmetto Soldier. 

In December, 1846, at Columbia, in S. C, the fair daugh- 
ters of that town held a fair ; it was at the time the troops 
were encamped at Columbia, and about to march. Amoug 
the specimens of beauty's handiwork, was a very handsome 
miniature American flag, on a staff. This little flag was 
presented to a young soldier, by a lady who at the same time 
exacted a promise from him, that if he lived to return, he 
should bring the flag home with him. 

The young soldier returned, and true to his word, as every 
palmetto boy is, has honorably redeemed his pledge. But 
the flag bears unmistakable evidences that it has been amidst 
scenes of blood and carnage. The tiny staff was crushed, 
and its silken folds stained — no, not stained, but richly crim- 
soned with jets of gallant blood. The young soldier himself 
was wounded, and two, at least, of his noble companions, 
occupying with him the same tent, surmounted by this little 
emblem of their country's honor, have been brought home 
lifeless corpses. The lady who has the flag, prizes it highly, 
and intends treasuring it up as an interesting historical me- 
mento, for the instruction and imitation of her sons. 



106 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Baron Von Grone. 

This Prussian officer has lately returned to Prussia to his 
duties in the service of the king of Prussia, after a yearns 
absence, on leave, with our army in Mexico. He entered 
that country about the time the train of Major Lally was leav- 
ing Vera Cruz, and took an active part in all the operations 
consequent upon its long and bloody march. His gallantry 
at Puente Nacional, and Cerro Gordo, was a source of the 
greatest approbation. It is said, that the rapidity with which, 
at the latter place, 600 chosen troops drove 2500 of the ene- 
my from their different positions, was owing, in a great meas- 
ure, to the plan of battle he suggested ; and his conduct at 
the bridge, was marked by equal skill and gallantry. 

Many incidents are related of the cool daring of the Baron 
on those occasions, by officers attached to the expeditions ; 
among which may be related the following : — 

It seems that the command having advanced beyond the 
reach of the castle, and upon the bridge, in rather an incau- 
tious manner, were attacked in front and on both flanks, and 
a few minutes after, in the rear. The fire was so severe that 
a retrograde movement was ordered, and a new positon assu- 
med some quarter of a mile in the rear. To gain this point 
the troops had to encounter another severe fire from the cas- 
tle, which at one time threatened their entire annihilation. 
The Baron was one of the last to leave the bridge, and re- 
turning on foot and alone, received a rather irregular but 
heavy volley. At the first shot, he turned his face to the 
enemy, and when they had finished and were reloading, he 
walked backwards, in a very deliberate manner, up the hill 
to the head of the pass ; here he received a wound. Some 
one alluding to the circumstance, enquired why, when the 
fire opened, he had acted thus ? The Baron replied, "Ah, 
that was very natural ; the balls began to grow thick, and I 
turned, for a gentleman does not like to be shot in the back." 

After the castle was taken, it was found that there was a 



THE LATE CAPTAIN JOHNSTON. 107 

l^rge breach in the wall ; the Baron observing it, and that 
there was a large body of men hovering near, whh the appa- 
rent purpose of renewing the attack, insisted that the breach 
should be secured. The young officer in command remon- 
strated, stating that the men, having been fighting all day, 
were tired and wanted rest. "Tired, sir; want rest? 
What is tired ? A soldier is never tired ! " 

Having been rather hasty in entering the city of Jalapa, 
he was taken prisoner by the Mexican commander, (Capt. 
Nunen,) who, after asking him a variety of questions con- 
cerning his name, rank, &:c., proceeded, " Well, sir, if you 
are merely a foreigner, on a visit to this country, what do 
you with these vile Americans ? " "Ah,', said he, " that is 
your own fault ; one cannot travel in your country without 
a sword and escort ! " " But then, sir," persisted the Capt. 
*' you were seen to draw and use your sword in their behalf." 
" It was but right," said the bold Baron, " for they were as- 
sisting me on my journey ; and for the fight, that I could not 
help, for fighting is my trade." The American troops were 
now, after a stout resistance, entering the city, when the val- 
iant Captain vamosed the room, and made his escape on the 
Baron's horse. 

The Baron was also present, and a volunteer aid to Gen. 
Lane, at the battle of Huamantla, where the gallant Walker 
was killed ; at the bombardment of Adixco, and various 
other places, where his bravery, composure, and military 
skill, were the subject of frequent remark ; while his gende- 
ness and suavity in garrison, have endeared him to all with 
whom he has ever been associated. 



Caj)t. Johnst07i. 

Nearly a year has elapsed since was fought the batde of 
San Pasqual, in which fell some of the choicest spirits of that 



108 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

little band which accompanied Gen. Kearny in his arduous 
march to California. One of the fallen was Captain Abra- 
ham Robinson Johnston, the second son of Col. John John- 
ston, one of the earliest settlers of the State of Ohio, a com- 
panion in arms, in the seventeenth year of his age, of the 
impetuous Wayne, in his expeditions against the hostile 
Indians of the then distant frontier of the northwest, and for 
many years the faithful Agent for Indian Affairs in Ohio and . 
Indiana ; he was born at Piqua, Ohio, on the 23d of May, 
1815, and entered as a cadet the Military Academy at West 
Point, in 3 830, at which noble institution, he in due time 
graduated with distinguished honor. While at the Academy, 
he was remarkable for his fondness for the study of the nat- 
ural sciences, particularly geology and mineralogy, and while 
engaged in the pursuit of his favorite study, among the almost 
inaccessable mountains surrounding the Point, he was pre- 
cipitated, by the breaking of a root, by the aid of which he 
was endeavoring to reach an elevated position, in search of 
mineralogical specimens, into a deep and rugged chasm be- 
low, by. which fall, he had the misfortune to fracture a leg, 
in which situation* he was compelled to drag himself along, 
though suffering the most excrutiating agony, until he reach- 
ed a point where those sent in search would be likely to find 
him. By this accident, he was confined to the hospital 
until after the graduating of his class ; but a private examin- 
ation having been given him, he was, soon after, appointed 
to the 1st regiment of dragoons, which regiment he joined, 
as soon as his leg had become sufficiently strong to bear the 
fatigue of the journey ; and continued with it almost uninter- 
ruptedly until the day of his death, either on the frontier of 
the West, or among the distant Indian tribes beyond — in 
summer, making excursions among them, in winter, attending 
to the arduous and annoying duties of a cavalry officer in 
garrison. On the promotion of Col. Kearny to his present 
rank of Brigadier, he was selected by the General, having 



ANECDOTE OF THE INDIANIANS. 109 

been the adjutant of his regiment, as his Aid-de-camp, in 
which capacity he accompanied him in his expedition to Cal- 
ifornia, when, meeting the enemy at San Pasqual, Johnston 
was selected to lead the advance, which he did in the most 
gallant style, until, receiving a ball in the head, he fell from 
iiis horse, and expired without a groan. He was remarkable 
for his extreme benevolence, and the generally high tone of 
his character, which united to a mind of superior order, en- 
deared him to all. He was known but to be loved. When 
his sad fate was announced, there was grief throughout the 
army. Had he lived to have prepared for publication the 
rough notes taken by him on the march to California, a work 
would have been produced, which would have been an orna- 
ment to literature and an acquisition to science. 



Anecdote of the Indiana Regiment. 

When the new Indiana regiment was on its w^ay to Cam- 
argo, it evinced no disposition to obey the officers of the 
steamer, although prompt to yield submission to its military 
superiors. As the steamboat was breasting the current, under 
full head of steam, the volunteers placed themselves on the 
shady side of the boat, listing her so as to make her rather 
unmanageable. The engineer called out •' trim boat,'' but 
no one obeyed. The request was repeated, but the volun- 
teers stood their ground, determined to meet the danger of 
bursting boilers or collapsed flues, rather then forego the 
comfort of the moment. The engineer thought that if the 
volunteers would keep shady, he might test their courage, 
and at the same time force them to keep cool. As the lead 
showed that there were only four feet of water in the channel, 
he suddenly raised the mud-valve, and let loose a current of 
steam upon his military heroes, who were in an instant over- 
board, and up to their arm-pits in the water. The lord of 
10 



110 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Steam had routed nearly a whole regiment, which fled inglo- 
riously at the first charge. The boat was kept ' trim ' for 
the remainder of the trip without the least difficulty. 



Capture of Midshipman Rogers. 

The successful exploit of burning the Creole, a fast sailing 
vessel supposed to be fitting out as a privateer, and moored 
alongside of the very walls of the castle of San Juan de 
Ulloa, emboldened the officers of the Somers to undertake 
fresh enterprises. One of these was a reconnoisance of Vera 
Cruz itself, with the intention of ascertaining the locality of 
the magazine and the feasibility of an attempt to blow it up, 
and on this hazardous undertaking a little party, which Mid- 
shipman Rogers and Surgeon Wright volunteered to conduct, 
was made up. 

For two nights, favored by the darkness, the party pur- 
sued it reconnoisance ; on the third, after having obtained a 
most complete and satisfactory knowledge of the localities 
about Vera Cruz, and ascertaining that their object could be 
accomplished, the little band was surrounded by a small body 
of Mexican lancers, while returning to the boat. Rogers, 
and the only sailor along with him were at once taken pris- 
oners — Mr. Wright, by presenting a pistol to the horsemen, 
succeeded in keeping them off until he reached his men at 
the shore, when they at once shoved off and succeeded in 
gaining the vessel in safety. Mr. W. did not dare to fire, 
thinking it might bring a large force upon him : as it was, he 
had the satisfaction of knowing that he had saved the boat 
and her crew. 

Midshipman Rogers was immediately marched off to the 
castle of Perote, and experienced very rigorous treatment 
while on the road. Before leaving Vera Cruz, however, the 
British Consul, with a praiseworthy generosity, furnished him 



CUTTING OUT THE BRIG CONDOR. Ill 

with a change of clothing, besides one hundred dollars in 
cash. After being confined in the dungeons of Perote for 
some time Midshipman Rogers was removed to the city of 
Mexico, when he was allowed to wait upon the General-in- 
chief, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who, with his usual 
dissimulation promised Midshipman Rogers every conveni- 
ence and comfort, a promise which however, he did not fulfTl. 
Midshipman Rogers was thus left friendless in the city of 
Mexico, the Mexican gaoler having eased him of the donative 
of the British consul. He was exposed to many hardships, 
but finally, upon the approach of Scott, he succeeded in 
making his escape, and joining the American army, and after- 
wards served in the battles under the walls of Mexico as an 
aid to the General-in-chief. 



Cuttinor out the Mexican Bris; Coridor. 

The United States Sloop of War, Cyane, Com. Dupont, 
anchored about a mile from the town of Guaymas, situated 
in the Department of Sonora, halfway up the Gulf of Cali- 
fornia, east side, on the 3d of October, and discovered two 
Mexican gunboats, which she had been in search of, lying 
in front of the town, dismantled, and their guns landed. 
The Mexican brig Condor was hauled close in, and the 
Mexicans were busy in dismantling her. A large number 
of citizens and soldiers had assembled on the shore to watch 
the movements of the Cyane, and to resist any attempts that 
might be made to land. 

Com. Dupont sent a flag of truce, demanding the surren- 
der of the two gunboats. The Mexican commandant 
refused compliance, as not comporting with the Mexican 
national or military character. Com. Dupont immediately 
prepared for bombarding the town. The Cyane, on the 7th, 
hauled up to within about a thousand yards of the town, 



112 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

being as near as she could get at high tide. Com. Dupont 
was then waited upon by four persons, representing them- 
.selves as neutral merchants, who requested him to defer 
hostilities for three days, to allow them, as well as others, 
time to remove their effects. This he promptly refused, 
as he believed them to be colleagued with the Mexicans, 
which eventually proved to be the case. They left the 
sloop in anger, and no sooner had they reached the shore, 
than the two gunboats were immediately set on fire. Com. 
Dupont fired two Paixhans at the gunboats, which dispersed 
those who were setting fire to them. The boats, however, 
were soon destroyed, and as the ostensible object of the 
expedition was now fulfilled; (the destruction of the gun- 
boats, though it would, doubdess, have been much more 
agreeable to the feelings of the Americans to have captured 
them, yet, when they reflected upon their small numbers, 
oreatly reduced by sickness, compared with the force of the 
enemy, who were over five hundred strong, they considered 
the affair as fortunate as was desirable,) Com. Dupont 
ceased the bombardment, and gave orders for cutting out the 
brig Condor, lying under the Mexican batteries. 

Part of the Cyane's crew were now drafted for the expe- 
dition, perhaps one of the most perilous undertakings since 
the burning of the Philadelphia under the w^alls of the 
Bashaw's castle at Tripoli. The launch, with a 12 pound 
carronade in her bows, together with the third cutter, with 
their crews properly armed and equipped, formed the cutdng 
out party, under the command of Lieut. G. W. Harrison, 
assisted by Midshipman Crabb and Acting Boatswain Col- 
lins, in the launch, and Lieut. Higgins and Midshipman 
Lewis, in the cutter. 

The boats lay to for a few moments, while Com. Dupont 
addressed the crews in few pertinent remarks, setting for^h 
the necessity of his sending them on so hazaradous an expe- 
dition ; wishing them to show the enemy, from the manner 



THE BRIG FIRED. 113 

in bringing out the brig fronm her more protected position, 
how they would have handled the gunboats. The officers 
and men in the boats, envied by all those on board, (for 
such vyas the enthusiasm that every one was disappointed who 
was not selected to participate in the attack upon the brig,) 
gave three cheers, and pulled for the brig. 

It was mid-day when the launch and cutter left the ship, 
in full view of the batteries of the enemy. The Condor lay 
within pistol shot of the town, and was in complete range of 
their musketry, stationed in perfect safety in the turning of 
a hill ; while one of their batteries could rake the entire deck 
of the brig. The guns of the Cyane immediately opened a 
tremendous fire upon the enemy to protect the boarding of 
the boats ; but it was discovered, as they drew near to the 
brig, that there was great danger of her fire injuring those in 
the boats, and Com. Dupont instantly checked his fire. The 
enemy reserved their fire until the crews of the boats had 
mounted the decks of the Condor, which they gallantly did, 
raising with an accompaniment of three cheers the American 
ensign at her flag staff. With a deafening yell the enemy 
now poured a dreadful fire upon the decks, from an-lS- 
pounder, charged with grape and round shot, and a culver- 
Ine, together with sharp volleys of musketry. The fire of 
the Cyane was now resumed, and it was so efficiently kept 
up that it prevented the enemy from making a nearer 
approach to save the brig. The launch returned the fire of 
the battery, while the marines poured a sharp fire in range 
of the musketeers. 

Her cable, though of iron, was soon cut with an axe, and 
the crew began heaving cheerily upon the hawser running to 
the kedge anchor, which they had dropped as they ap- 
proached the brig, with " Off she goes, and off she must 
go." In the meantime the enemy's fire became so hot that 
Lieut. Harrison ordered the brig to be fired, fearing the boats 
might be disabled. This work was done under showers of 
10* 



114 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

balls, as they were receiving the fire of at least five hundred 
muskets. When she was warped up to the kedge, she was 
taken in tow by the boats. It was at this moment that the 
enemy had some exultation ; seeing the boats pulling away 
from the brig, and not observing the hawser, which was 
slack, they thought the boats were beaten off; but they soon 
saw the hawser tighten, and the brig follow the boats. 

The brig was soon towed out of range of the enemy's 
musketry, and as she was burning fast, she was towed to lee- 
ward and abandoned. The gallant little crew were joyously 
received by those on board the Cyane, who had witnessed 
their perilous and successful adventure. Not a man was 
injured, which seems miraculous, as they were exposed to 
an almost overwhelming fire for about thirty minutes ; and it 
can only be attributed to the incapacity of the Mexicans in 
aiming their guns, a characteristic of theirs, which they have 
faithfully preserved in every engagement which they have 
had with American troops. 



Eating a Mexican. 

A scouting party arrived late one evening at the village of 
Mineral del Monte, near the city of Mexico, and put up at 
the house of Don Pedro, one of the first citizens of the 
place, who received them very kindly. The people of the 
village had been told that the Americans were in the habit of 
feasting upon children ; and, fearful that some of the dra- 
goons pight want a Mexican child for his supper, they had 
removed all those " pledges of love." 

Lieut. M. having heard this story, thought of amusing 
himself with the fears of the Mexicans; and accordingly 
accosted a man in the street, if he knew where he could get 
a nice fat hoy for supper ; adding that he was very hungry. 



COSTLY UNIFORM. ' 115 

The astonished and frightened Mexican answered with a 
doleful shake of the head, "Aa?/ no." 

*' Well," said M. " as I'm hungry, I ain't partici^Jar — 
let's have a little girl then." 

The poor man, still more horrified, declared that there 
were none of those in the village. 

The Lieut, then said, " Well, if you can't let me have a 
boy or a girl, be so good as to show me a market where I 
can get a choice piece of a full-grown man, as I'm dreadful 
hungry, and must have something to eat ! " 

This was too much for the Mexican, and he took to his 
heels in the twinkling of a jack-knife. 



Costly Uniform, 

Gen. Valencia, who was so badly whipped by Gen. 
Smith, at Contreras, possesses one requisite, and the chief 
requisite of a great Mexican general, he has a most splendid 
and costly uniform. It is said that when in full dress he 
bore upon his distinguished-person at least $20,000 worth of 
gold, diamonds, and precious metals. What a splendid 
capture he would have been to some of our ragged boys ! 
No wonder he ran so fast when Riley charged his batteries. 
He had something to run for, though how he made such 
good time under such a heavy load, was a wonder to every- 
body. We understand, however, that the general was in 
very bad spirits — we mean nothing against the quality of the 
spirits with which he quenched the valor of his soul, and 
kept the cold off his stomach — on the memorable night of 
the 18th of August ; but he was disheartened by the ab- 
sence of a magnificent jewelled sword, which cost $10,000, 
and which, under a monied pressure, he had left ** in soak" 
at the Monte Pio, This sword is now to be seen in Mex- 



1L6 '^ ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

ico, and was pawned for $1,500. Its absence at Contreras 
has been assigned by Valencia's friends as one of the causes 
of his defeat in that battle. 

It would be an interesting contrast to estimate the compar- 
ative value of the respective uniforms of Gen. Valencia, the 
conquered, and Gen. Smith, the victor, at Contreras. The 
result will throw much light upon the great leading distinc- 
tive traits of the American and Mexican character. Without 
meaning to impugn the richness and extent of Gen. Smith's 
wardrobe, we do not think it extravagant to estimate the 
value of the old dark blue coat and lightish blue pants, six- 
bit glazed cap, cork-soled boots, and service sabre, worn by 
the hero of Contreras, on that memorable day, as of the val- 
ue of $15. We doubt whether any of our little Jew tailors 
would not think that amount enormous. 

But the inward man of these two generals is not less 
striking in contrast than their outward man. The showy 
and costly exterior of the one covers a vain, faithless, cow- 
ardly heart — whilst the plain, simple, and unpretening 
appearance of the other gives token of the dauntless heart 
and indomitable character, that made him the Conqueror 
and Hero. 



Mexican Cavalry Officers. 
CoRTAZAR is a member of one of the first families of 
Guanajuato — a family that has always taken a leading part 
in the affairs of Mexico. He received the rank he now 
holds in 1841 — being then the Governor of Guanajuato. In 
the year just mentioned, Santa Anna pronounced against 
President Bustamente, who, doubting the loyalty of Cortazar, 
sent him the General's sash as an inducement to be faithful. 
But the present had not the desired effect ; or rather, as sorne 
say, it arrived at Guanajuato a day or two too late. 



MEXICAN CAVALRY OFFICERS. 117 

Guzman. There is scarcely a cavalry officer in the Mex- 
ican army, who has seen more service than he has. It was 
in 1839, or in 1840, that Guzman received the rank of Gen- 
eral of Brigade, which was not the reward of political intrigue 
or tergiversation. It was won by hard fighting. In the de- 
partment of Morelia he maintained for nearly three years — 
and with but litde assistance from the Government — a haras- 
sing war with the Federalists ; defeated them in several en- 
gagements, and finally compelled them to sue for peace. 
More than one act of daring has been attributed to this offi- 
cer. It is said that during an emeute^ he galloped towards a 
gun which the artillerymen had deserted, and for a few min- 
utes alone kept the insurgents at bay. 

ToRREJON is a mestizo, or half-breed ; and, like most 
mestizoes, is by no means distinguished for personal beauty.. 
Like Guerrero, and other Mexican officers who have had a 
large admixture of Indian blood in their veins, Torrejon is 
very cunning. In laying traps for an adversary, he is re- 
markably expert; and, as will be remembered, it was he who 
surrounded and took prisoners Captain Thornton's command 
of sixty men. 

General Jose Maria Minon is in most respects the op- 
posite of Torrejon. Both are men of courage ; but there is 
something, chivalric in the courage of Minon ; — nothing in 
that of Torrejon. Torrejon rarely attacks an enemy, except 
by means of an ambuscade. Minon would almost scorn to 
vanquish an enemy in that way. They are as unlike in per- 
son as they are in mind. Minon has a fine figure and ex- 
pressive features. He is a great favorite in the Mexican 
army, who like him for his chivalric courage — and style him 
the " Murat of Mexico." He is now forty-six or forty-eight 
years of age — or in the prime of life. He was made a Gene- 
ral of Brigade in 1828, having distinguished himself at the 
battle of Acajete. He served during the campaign in 1836, 
but was not present at the battle of San Jacinto. When con- 



lis ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

versing with Englishmen or Americans, he descants in the 
highest terms, upon the valor displayed by the Texans through- 
out the campaign in question. Amongst the instances of 
that valor which he relates as having come under his own 
observation, is the following : 

Durfhg a skirmish, Minon saw a Texan pursued by five 
Mexican foot soldiers. The Texan finding his pursuers 
gaining upon him, turned suddenly round and shot the fore- 
most Mexican dead. Then clubbing his rifle, he withstood 
the assaults of the others. Two of them he struck dead ; 
but in doing this he broke his rifle, and at that moment the 
remaining Mexican stabbed him in the back and killed him. 



Capture of Captain Thornton'' s Command. 

On the evening of the 23d of April, Gen. Taylor received 
intelligence that the Mexicans had crossed the Rio Grande ; 
about twenty-five hundred men above and fifteen hundred 
below the American Fort. Two squadrons of dragoons 
were the next day despatched, one in each direction, for the 
purpose of reconnoitering the Mexican advance. The 
squadron ordered above was in command of Captain Thorn- 
ton, and composed of Captain Hardee, Lieutenants Kane 
and Mason, and sixty-one privates and non-commissioned 
ofiicers, who found that the Mexicans had crossed over the 
river in great numbers. Captain Thornton had proceeded 
but about twenty-four miles, and as he supposed to within 
about three miles of the Mexican camp, when his guide re- 
fused to go any further, stating for his reason that the whole 
country was infested with Mexicans. 

Captain Thornton, however, proceeded on with his com- 
mand about two miles, when on the 26th he came to a farm- 
house, which was enclosed entirely by a chapparel fence, 
with the exception of that portion of it which bordered on 



CAPTAIN BUTLER. 119 

the river, and this was so boggy as to be impassable. He 
entered this enclosure through a pair of bars, and approach- 
ed the house for the purpose of making some inquiry, his 
command followed. They had no sooner entered than from 
the chapparel there sprung out sorne two thousand Mexicans, 
completely surrounding him and opening a severe fire. He 
wheeled his men for the purpose of charging the enemy, 
when his horse having received a shot, ran away with him, 
and leaping the chapparel fence, plunged down a precipice 
and fell. Captain Thornton under him, who remained insen- 
sible for several hours. Captain Hardee, who succeeded to 
the command, attempted to effect an escape, but finding it 
impossible, prepared to resist to the last extremity, when a 
Mexican officer rode up and asked him to surrender, prom- 
ising to treat him and his force as prisoners of war accor- 
ding to the custom of civilized nations. Captain Hardee 
then surrendered. 

In this engagement Lieutenant Mason and nine men were 
killed, and two wounded, who were sent by the Mexicans 
into the American camp. Captain Thornton was subse- 
quently taken prisoner. 



Captain Butler. 

It has been already announced that Captain John Buder, 
of the 3d dragoons, U. S. A., died at Mier, on the 23d of 
December last. He sunk under a malady which has robbed 
the army of many brave spirits — himself of the bravest. He 
was the grandson of Pierce Butler, a delegate from the Stale 
of South Carolina to the Convention that framed the Consti- 
tution of the United States. His father was distinguished 
for courage and patriotism during the revolutionary war, and 
has furnished bright names for the scroll of fame since the 
achievement of the independence of America. The inime- 



120 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

diate subject of this notice inherited the wealth and spirit of 
a line of noble ancestry. He was of that joyous and gene- 
rous turn of mind which tempers courage with the sweetest 
attributes of social excellence. He was wealthy and brave. 
A scholar, a gentleman, and a soldier. For many years he 
occupied a distinguished position in the fashionable circles of 
Philadelphia, where his residence was a pattern of elegant 
taste, and the resort of wit and learning. His fireside was 
adorned by his lady, whose accomplished manners imparted 
grace and dignity to the hospitalities of a polished and pro- 
fuse household. 

The war found Captain Butler thus surrounded by luxu- 
ries, blest with domestic comfort, and honored by troops of 
friends. Less than these would have been a sacrifice 
for the toils of a campaign. But the spirit of the 
Butlers of the Revolution was awakened in the breast of 
this their representative, and he at once sought a place under 
the flag of his country. He joined the 3d dragoons as 
captain ; and though the chances of war have not thrown in 
his way opportunities of signalizing himself by such deeds 
as command the admiration of millions, his soldierly bearing 
and prompt spirit acquired for him the respect of his corps 
and the admiration of his commanding officer. His com- 
pany acknowledged no superior in discipline and effective- 
ness. He was a soldier from choice. He entered the army 
from the impulses of a gallant heart, and whilst the most 
exemplary officers, he was yet one of the kindest and most 
generous of men. He was respected for his manliness, ad- 
mired for his devotion to duty, and loved for the munificence 
of his disposition. The loss of such a man was a loss to the 
service. His place at the head of his column can with dif- 
ficulty. be supplied, his loss at the hearthstone can never be. 
It was one of the griefs of. his friends that he was worsted by 
disease. They w^ould have been prepared to hear of his 
falling in the midst of batde ; for such men are born to 
return from the wars with honor, or to return not at all. 



Fremont's ride. 121 

Fremont'' s Extraoi'dinary Ride. 
It was at day break on the 22d March, 1847, that Lieut. 
Col. Fremont, his friend Don Jesus (pronounced Haisoos,) 
Pico, and his servant Jacob Dodsons, set out from La Ciudad 
le los Angeles (the city of the Angels,) in the southern part 
of upper California, to proceed, in the shortest time, to Mon- 
terey on the Pacific ocean, distant full four hundred miles. 
The way is over a mountainous country, much of it unin- 
habited, with no other road than a trace, and many defiles to 
pass, and particularly the maritime defile of El Rincon, or 
Punto Gordo, fifteen miles in extent, made by the jutting 
of a precipitous mountain into the sea, and which can only 
be passed when the tide is out and the sea calm, and even 
then iif many places through the waves. The towns of Santa 
Barbara and San Luis Obispo, and occasional ranchos, are 
the principal inhabited places on the route. Each of the 
party had three horses, nine in all, to take their turn under 
the saddle. The six loose horses ran ahead, without bridle 
or halter, and required some attention to keep the track. 
When wanted for a change, say at distances of twenty miles, 
they were caught by the lasso, thrown either by Don Jesus 
or Jacob. None of the horses were shod. The usual gait 
was a sweeping gallop. The first day they ran one hundred 
and twenty-five miles. The next day they made another one 
hundred and twenty-five miles, passing the formidable moun- 
tain of Santa Barbara, and counting upon it the skeletons of 
some fifty horses, part of near double that number which 
perished in the crossing of that terrible mountain by the Cal- 
ifornia battalion on Christmas day, 1846, amidst a raging 
tempest, and a deluge of rain and cold more killing than that 
of the Sierra Nevada — the day of severest suffering, say 
Fremont and his men, that they have ever passed. At sun- 
set the party stopped to sup with the friendly Capt. Dana, 
and at nine at night, San Luis Obispo was reached, the home 
of Don Jesus, and where an affecting reception awaited Lieut 
11 



122 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

Col. Fremont, in consequence of an incident that occurred 
there, which history will one day record ; and he was detain- 
ed till eleven o'clock in the morning, receiving the visits of 
the inhabitants, (mothers and children included,) taking a 
breakfast of honor, and waiting for a relief of fresh horses to 
be brought in from the surrounding country. Here the nine 
horses from San Angeles were left, and eight others taken in 
their place, and a Spanish boy added to the party to assist 
in managing the loose horses. Proceeding at the usual gait 
till eight at night, and having made some seventy miles, Don 
Jesus, who had spent the night before with his family and 
friends, and probably with but little sleep, became fatigued, 
and proposed a halt for a few hours. It was in the valley of 
the Salinas, (Salt River, called Buena VenUirciy in the old 
maps,) and the haunt of marauding Indians. For safety du- 
ring their repose, the party turned off the trace, issued through 
a Canada into a thick wood, and laid down, the horses being 
put to grass at a short distance, with the Spanish boy in the 
saddle to watch. Sleep, when commenced, was too sweet 
to be easily given up, and it was halfway between midnight 
and day, when the sleepers were aroused by an estampedo 
among the horses, and the calls of the boy. The cause of 
the alarm was soon found — not Indians, but white bears — 
this valley being their favorite resort, and the place where 
Col. F. and thirty-five of his men encountered some hundred 
of them the summer before, killing thirteen of them on the 
ground. The character of these bears is well known, and 
the bravest hunters do not Hke to meet them without the ad- 
vantage of numbers. On discovering the enemy. Col. F. 
felt for his pistols, but Don Jesus desired him to lie still, 
saying that " people could scare bears;" and immediately 
hallooed at them in Spanish, and they went off Sleep went 
off also ; and the recovery of the horses, frightened by the 
bears, building a rousing fire, making a breakfast from the 
hospitable supplies of San Luis Obispo, occupied the party 



Fremont's ride. 123 

till daybreak, when the journey was resumed. Eighty miles 
and the afternoon brought the party to Monterey. The next 
day, in the afternoon, the party set out on their return, and 
the two horses rode by Col. F. from San Luis Obispo, being 
a present from Don Jesus, he (Don Jesus,) desired to make 
an experiment of what one of them could do. They were 
brothers, one a grass younger than the other, both of the 
same color, (cinnamon) and hence called el canalo or loa 
canalosj (the cinnamon, or the cinnamons.) The'elder was 
taken for the trial ; and the journey commenced upon him 
at leaving Monterey, the afternoon well advanced. Thirty 
miles under the saddle done that evening, and the party stop- 
ped for the night. In the morning the elder canalo was 
again under the saddle, for Col. F., and for ninety miles he 
carried him without a change and without apparent fatigue. 
It was still thirty miles to San Luis Obispo, where the night 
was to be passed, and Don Jesus insisted that canalo could 
easily do it, and so said the horse by his looks and actions. 
But Col. F. would not put him to the trial, and, shifting the 
saddle to the younger brother, the elder was turned loose to 
run the remaining thirty miles without a rider. He did so, 
immediately taking the lead and keeping it all the way, and 
entered San Luis in a sweeping gallop, nostrils distended, 
snuffing the air, and neighing with exultation at his return to 
his native pastures, his younger brother all the while running 
at the head of the horses under the saddle, bearing on his bit 
and held in by his rider. The whole eight horses made 
their one hundred and twenty miles each, that day, (after 
thirty the evening before,) the elder cinnamon making ninety 
of his under the saddle that day, besides thirty under the 
saddle the evening before ; nor was there the least doubt that 
he would have done the whole distance in the same time, if 
he had continued under the saddle. After a hospitable de- 
tention of another half day at San Luis Obispo, the party set 
out for Los Angeles, on the same nine horses which they had 



124 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

rode from that place, and made the ride back in about the 
same time they had made it up> namely, at the rate of one 
hundred and twenty-five miles a day. On this ride the grass 
on the road was the food for the houses. At Monterey they 
had barley ; but these horses, meaning those trained and 
domesticated, as the canalos were, eat almost anything in the 
way of vegetable food, or even drink, that their master uses, 
by whom they are petted and caressed, and rarely sold. 
Bread, fruits, sugar, coffee, and even wine, like the Persian 
horse, they take from the hand of their master, and obey with 
like docility his slightest intimation. A tap of the whip on 
the saddle springs him into action ; the check of a thread 
rein, on a Spanish bit, would stop them ; and stopped short 
at speed, they do not josde the rider or throw him forward. 
They leap on any thing — man, beast, or weapon, on which 
their master directs them. But this description, so far as 
conduct and behavior are concerned, of course only applies to 
the the trained and domesticated horse. — Nat. Intelligencer, 



The Man who was not horn to he hilled hij a Shell. 

During the bombardment of Fort Brown, the besieged 
troops were obliged to throw themselves flat upon the ground 
every time a shell from the enemy was fired at them. A shell 
exploding among men in a standing position, would be more 
apt to kill them, than if they were close to the ground. A 
knot of officers were standing together for a moment one day, 
resting and chatting, when the look-out man gave the word 
to dodge a shell. The officers were down in an instant, 
Lieut. H. prostrating himself face downward, and looking 
over his shoulder. The shell came fizzling down, close by 
them. " I vvonder if she'll bust," remarked the waggish H. ; 
" she's a d — 1 of a long while about it, any how." Hardly 
were the words uttered, when a tremendous explosion replied 



**A FIRE IN THE REAR." 12-3 

to them, and H.'s head went down like a lump of lead. 
Pretty soon the pieces began to fall, with a pattering sound, 
around them. — " Now we'll catch it," remarked H. inclining 
his head a little upward, but still keeping close. '' There it 
comes ! " said he, as he saw a large fragment descending 
rapidly, directly upon his back. His comrades saw it, and 
thought, sure enough, that poor H.'s time had come. 'Twas 
useless to dodge, for he might roll himself directly in the way 
of it, so he "lay and took it," as he remarked afterwards. 
The piece hit him plumb between the shoulders. " Hoo !" 
grunted H., and his friends sprang forward to see if he was 
dead. "x\re you hurt, H. ? " "Nof said he cooly, rising 
and shaking his coat, "but a fellow might as well be, as to 
be scared to death !" It was a clod of dirt that hit him, the 
shell having penetrated the ground, in a hard place, throwing 
off clods in every direction. 



" A fire in the Reary 

Water was scarce during the heat of summer, at Brasos 
Island, and liquor not so plentiful, at times, as the necessities 
of the sojourners required. It was at one of these thirsty 
seasons that a Yankee, by some hook or crook, got hold of 
a barrel of tolerably fair cider and with this small stock in 
trade he at once " set up" business. To rake and scrape to- 
gether a parcel of boards and odd bits of canvass, enough to 
build a small shanty, was the work of but a short hour ; to 
set the barrel on a couple of skids, in the back part of the 
tent, to tap it, and to commence retailing it at a dime a glass, 
occupied but a short time more. 

Customers flocked in by the dozens, the cider went off at 

a rapid rate, and the Yankee was making his " etarnal forlin" 

at a stride that would have elated John Jacob Astor, in his 

early days. Some of his patrons complained that a dime a 

11* 



\ 



126 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

glass for cider, which was not worth more than two dollars a 
barrel at the outside, was an outrageous price ; but the times 
were hard, the retailer's conscience easy — he had all the ci- 
der in the market, and could not afford to sell any cheaper. 
This state of things went on for an entire day, the Yankee's 
quarters being beset by throngs of patrons. On the following 
morning, and before the cider was yet half sold, they began 
to thin off gradually, and by the middle of the afternoon it 
was only now and then that a straggling stranger visited the 
shade and cider of the retailer. What was the matter ? 
What had caused this sudden falling off of custom ? The 
reader will soon see. 

Towards night a new face appeared in the shanty, and 
called for a glass of cider. It was drawn, swallowed, and 
the customer took out his purse and enquired the price. 

"One dime." said the Yankee. 

" One what ? " retorted the customer. 

" One dime," cooly replied the Yankee. 

" One h — 11," snarled the customer ; " why, I can get 
just as good cider here ^ov Jive cents a glass." 

" N-o y-o-u c-a-n-t," drawled the Yankee. *' There aint 
a pint of cider, 'cept what I've got in this here barril, this 
side of Orleans, I'll be darned if there is." 

" I know better," ejaculated the customer, tartly. " I 
bought a glass of cider not two hours ago, and only paid five 
cents for it." 

" I'd like to know where you effected that small transac- 
tion," queried the Yankee. 

'* Right round here," was the answer. 

*' I guess it was ' right round here.' Right round wliere^ 
I'd like to know? " continued the cider vender. 

" Why, close by here, somewhere — just back of your 
place," returned the customer. 

" I'll bet you tu drinks you didn't," spoke up the Yankee, 
" and we'll go right round and see." 

" Done," said the customer, and off they started. 



AMPUDIA AND TAYLOR. 127 

Sure enough, " right round here," they found another ci- 
der establishment in full blast. A second Yankee had rig- 
ged a small shade in the rear of the first Yankee's shanty, 
had tapped the other end of the latter's barrel of cider, 
through a board, and was retailing it at five cents a glass, to 
a perfect rush of customers. 



Ge7ierals Taylor and Ampudia. 

The interview between Generals Taylor and Ampudia, in 
relation to the capitulation of Monterey, has been described 
by a gentleman who was present, as a very rich scene, in 
which the two chiefs were in fine contrast. Ampudia was all 
courtesy and fine words, big speeches, great volubility, with 
an abundance of gesticulation, shrugs, nods, alternate smiles 
and frowns, and that whole catalogue of silent language with 
which persons of French origin are wont to help the expres- 
sion of their ideas. Gen. Ampudia is of a French family, 
and was born in the West Indies. Gen. Taylor, on the other 
hand, was as dry as a chip, as plain as a pipe-stem, and as 
short as pie-crust. Dressed in his best coat, (which, by the 
by, looks as if it had served some half a dozen campaigns,) 
with his glazed oil cloth cap, strapless pants, and old fash- 
ioned white vest, he seemed more like an old farmer, lately 
elected militia colonel, who had put on his every day suit, 
with the slightest possible regard to military toggery, to dis- 
tinguish him from the crowd of mere civilians. In his reply 
to Ampudia's long harrangues, he used such direct, blunt, 
and emphatic language, that the valorous Mexican was taken 
all aback, and *' had nothing to say." Ampudia opened the 
interview by saying that his forces were too large to be con- 
quered by Gen. Taylor's arrny — that he had an abundance 
of ammunition, 7000 infantry and 3000 cavalry, with 40 
cannon, and the best artillerists in the world — that his loss 
was very small, and he felt confident that he could defend 



128 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

the city against a much stronger force than that under Gen. 
Taylor's command ; but that, from motives of humanity — to 
save the effusion of blood — to save the lives of helpless wo- 
men and children — he was willing so far to compromise the 
glory of the great Mexican nation, as to surrender the city, 
provided he was allowed to retire with the whole of his force, 
and carry the public property with him, and all the arms and 
munitions of war. When he had finished his magnificent 
oration, which, in the style of his celebrated proclamation, 
was garnished with numerous allusions to the stupendous 
power and unfading glory and renown of magnanimous Mex- 
ico, old Zack quietly stuck his hands deep into his breeches 
pockets, cocked his head a Utile on one side, and gently rais- 
ing his grizzly eyebrows, that the bold little black eye lurking 
beneath might have full play upon the grandiloquent Mexican, 
replied in these few but expressive words ; " Gen. Ampudia, 
we came here to take Monterey, and we are going to do it 
on such terms as please us. I wish you good morning." 
And the old general hobbled off on his two short little legs, 
leaving the Mexican general and staff in the profoundest 
bewilderment. 



Military Etiquette. 

A story is told of an eccentric officer, on the banks 
of the Rio Grande, showing that he is inclined, occasionally, 
to overlook slight breaches of military etiquette. The officer 
had returned from a convivial party, and felt in a pretty good 
humor with himself and every body else. Being inclined to 
breathe the fresh air, and suffer the effects of good cheer to 
evaporate, he selected a patch of green sward in camp for a 
promenade, and commenced slowly walking backward and 
forward. Now it so happened that a sentinel on duty had 
post directly in the officers line of march, and every few min- 
utes would encounter his superior officer, and, as in duty 



TAYLOR AND THE VOLUNTEERS. 129 

bound, his musket would be presented to salute him, and 
when he had passed, brought to the shoulder again. This 
continued for a long time, till the sentinel was quite tired of 
saluting him, and at last said, " Colonel, if you pass this way 
again, sir, I shan't salute you." The officer paused, spread 
his legs, surveyed his man from his glazed fatigue cap to the 
toes of his brogans, and back to his cap again, and thrusting 
his hands deep into his pockets, exclaimed ; " And if you 
think I care whether you do or not, you are most infernally 
mistaken, my fine fellow — that's all I've got to say;" and re- 
suming his promenade, the officer and private passed each 
other with the utmost indifference. 



Gen. Taylor a,7id the Volunteers. 

Gen. Taylor is singular in everything. I have reason to 
believe that he is, notwithstanding his austerity of manner 
when busy, as full of humor as an egg is of meat. Taking 
this for granted, he must have been gready amused, the other 
day, at the manoeuvers of some volunteers, who went to his 
*' ranche" to take a peep at the old lion. The General's 
tent is just like those around it, only, perhaps, a little more 
so — and when he sits in it, with his farmer's clothes on, and 
spectacles on his nose, poring over some order or official 
document, he looks more like an honest yeomen trying to 
decipher the details of his merchant's account, than the man 
he really is. The volunteers, half a dozen in number, loitered 
about head quarters awhile, and seeing the old tarpaulin, that 
is stretched over a pole in front of the General's tent, they 
went under it and seated themselves on the wooden benches. 
They saw an honest looking elderly man seated in the lent, 
eight or ten feet off, and neither knowing or caring who he 
was, they chatted awhile rather loudly, canvassing the merits 
and demerits of " Old Zach," some saying that " he was 
a d — d tough old cock ; " others that, " he was pretty d — d 



130 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

tight on the Americans, sometimes," &c. Finally they 
struck up old Dan Tucker in real Kentucky style, beating 
time on the benches, not uproarously, but heartily. The 
General paid no attention to what was going on, and the free 
hearted fellows bad no idea that they were within half a mile 
of" old Zach," thinking, probably, that he had " stepped out 
somewhere," The General rose, and went to Major Bliss' 
office, and spoke to him, and then started off towards town. 
" See here," said one of the volunteers, " I'll bet that yon- 
der is old Zach ! " " Oh h — 11, no ! " exclaimed another, 
positively, " that old Gen. Taylor ! " and he laughed the 
other into silence. But the first speaker thought he would 
make sure, so he stepped up to Major Bliss and asked — " Is 
that the old fellow, yonder?" pointing to the General. 
"What old fellow do you mean?" replied the Major. 
" Why, the old General that ain't him, is it? " " That is 
Gen. Taylor : yes, sir," replied the Major, highly amused 
at the scene. " The h — 11 it is, ! " exclaimed the fellow, 
stalking after old Rough and Ready — " come on boys ! that's 
him, by Jupiter, I told you so ! " — and the company started 
off in pursuit. — Letter from an Officer. 



Lieutenant Colonel Duncan. 

Lieut. Col. Duncan, of the battalion of artillery, as at Palo 
Alto and Resaca de la Palma, signalized himself for his bra- 
very at Monterey. Col. Duncan is known not to be very 
fastidious in his dres, rather negligent in matters of the toilet, 
and this led to a rather ludicrous error at the interview or 
parley between Gens. Taylor and Ampudia, at which, many 
officers, of both armies, w^ere present; aVid Lieut. Duncan 
by the invitation of Gen. Taylor. He was unshaven — wore 
a shocking bad hat — and seeemed to have much more of the 
"l-do-as'l-d — n please" air of the Texan Ranger, than he 
had of an officer of high rank among the regulars. As he 



MAJOR GENERAL PILLOW. 131 

entered the audience chamber, with his usual 2dY o^ abandon^ 
the Mexican officers seemed to have been suddenly and sim- 
ultaneously operated upon by an electrifying machine. They 
would look at Duncan and whisper to one another, and then 
look and whisper again. At length Don Jose Maria Negriti, 
a busy little Mark Meddle of a feliow, one of Ampudia's aids, 
who spoke English passing well, stepped up to one of Gen. 
Taylor's staff, and pointing to Lieut. Col. Duncan, begged 
to be informed " If that was not Capt. Walker? " " No." 
" Nor Hays ? " " No." " Nor McCulloch ? " " No." 
"Then is he not at least a Texaq ? " "No," The little 
Aid, having got this particular and general information that 
the gallant Duncan was not a Texan "no how," he breathed 
freer, and returned to his general and comrade officers, to 
whom he communicated this gratifying intelligence.* 



Major Genei'al Pillow. 
Upon his appointment to the Brigadier Generalship, G. 
J. Pillow hastened to join the army and assume the command 
allotted to him, where he has since gained such imperishable 
laurels. His stay in New Orleans is thus happly hit off by 
the editor of a southern paper ; — He was dressed in a full suit 
of " regimentals," with the brass buttons and gilt lace pertain- 
ing to a " full brigadier," and wore his three cornered cocked 
hat after the most approved style of militia musters. He 
was accompanied by his aid, two servants, and had along the 
requisite number of prancing coursers, either for a charge or 
a retreat. The General gratified the citizens of N. O. with his 
horsemanship, frequently, during his stay. Every morning, 
his servants led out two of his chargers, elegantly caparisoned, 

* General Ampudia liad heard that the Texans, to a man, had determined 
upon cutting his throat the first opportunity they might have ; and this accounts 
for his consternation, as Lieut. Col. Duncan was taken for one of the 'b'hoye/ 



132 ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS. 

and walked them up and down the street, in front of the St. 
Charles; and, upon inquky as to whose horses they were, 
always condescended to answer, " They are Brigadier Gen- 
eral Pillow's, sir — Brigadier General Pillow is gwyne to take 
a ride, sir." The morning after his arrival, the Brigadier, 
accompanied by his aid, mounted his horse, it is said, with- 
out any other accident except twice tripping himself up with 
his spurs, and gallantly trotted up St. Charles, around into 
Magazine street, where he halted before the Picayune office. 
The publisher, in hot haste, rushed to the door, where, after 
receiving a military salute from the Brigadier, the following 
racy and unique dialogue took place ; 

" What is the price," says the Brigadier, " of twelve num- 
bers of the Picayune, per annum ? " 
" Twenty dollars," said the publisher. 
" That is pretty tall ; however, send six numbers to Mrs. 
Brigadier General Pillow, at Columbia, Tennessee ; and six 
to Mr. Brigadier General Pillow, wherever he may be on 
service, as he expects to be on active duty soon. And, by 
the way, you can announce in your paper, to-morrow, that 
Brigadier General Pillow has arrived in the city, in good 
health, and is, at present, staying at the St. Charles." 

Overcome with the announcement, the publisher retreated 
to his room. The Brigadier and his aid travelled off in fine 
style, and, as they turned the corner of Magazine street, they 
met a brother soldier, belonging to the 51st regiment of rag- 
ged volunteers, singing the new popular military ballad of — 

" The volunteers to the war have gone, 
In the ranks of death you'll find 'em, 
With their little caps their heads upon, 
And no coat tails behind 'em." 



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